Hormone deprivation and depression

Hi there,

Hormone treatment is very hard on some people, the treatment for cancer is hard in itself.
I would recommend that you try and persuade your husband to see a psychiatrist or psychologist alone or with you.

Best wishes,

Georges

Berry,

I wonder about the full treatment protocol and the dates of the hormonal administration. In your initial post you say "...  Here we are, 6 months after the last hormone deprivation shot ...", which made me curious when you wrote about the estrogens therapy ("... block female hormones ...") proposed by his doctor last July (?). Usually estradiol is administered not blocked.

The shot you refer may be the traditional LHRH Lupron which is commonly used in RT+HT combination therapies. However, these shots have different doses that go from one month coverage up to six months. In other words the length of the effectiveness of the shot will influence the timing when the patient starts to recuperate his previous testosterone levels. The same goes for others LHRH shots with the exception to Firmagon that is administered monthly. In some RT+HT combination, some doctors use antiandrogens but these do not influence the testosterone and have short half-lives leading to quick improvements. 

Recovery of testosterone in any type of LHRH (GnRH) varies from patient to patient (depending on the factors listed by Georges above) but typically it takes between four to six months, counted from the date of the end of effectiveness of the shot. For instance, in a four month shot, one could take 10 months to recover counting from the date of the shot's administration (4+6=10).
The patient may start losing some of the side effects on the second month (shot+2). Typically one starts feeling improvements in regards to; irregular heartbeat, irregular breathing, joint pain, numbness in the hands and feet, itching, etc. At the four months mile stone one gets improvement in testicles (from spongy to firmer), libido, hot flashes, blurred vision, tenderness of the breasts, trouble sleeping, etc.
The more serious side effects seem to be the last ones to recover. For instance; mood changes, hot flashes, fatigue and the ability for maintaining an erection satisfactory for intercourse.

Accordingly, I would think that your man is still in the improving process and has not fully recovered to a normal status. Surely some guys get longer in recuperating and some become frustrated when it regards sex, experiencing anxiety due to the effect of the hormonal shot at the pituitary (easily mood changes).

I have experienced those side effects when under hormonal treatment during 18 months. Some of the side effects were mild but I used life tactics to counter the most obvious ones. Naps in the afternoon, earlier dinners and daily physical exercises were good for me. However, some oncologists treat each symptom/effect with medication. Estrogen patches are common to substitute the lacking testosterone in some of our dependent systems that may the source of the symptom (hypogonadism issues). In my case, I started feel improvements on the fourth month from the end of the effectiveness of the drug (Leuprolide 6-month shot) which was the tenth month counting from the date of the administration of the shot.

I would recommend your husband to participate in this forum and read the experience of the many. He can get help from a support group near you specifically dealing with cases similar to what you are experiencing. Here is the link for you to search;

http://www.ustoo.org/anxiety-and-depression

Your husband may not comment as you would expect because of his present mind status, but I believe that he will be grateful for what you are doing once he fully recovers from the effects. You are wonderful.

Best wishes,

VGama