Guest guest Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 Rip -- I would hope that your doctor pre-treated you with an anti-androgen prior to the administration of the Lupron, but it seems not since you didn't mention that. Your testosterone level will therefore actually increase for a short time before falling, hopefully to castrate levels. Also, in the event that you exhibit any sort of allergic reaction, I would have preferred the first administration of the medication to be a one month depot. I hope that you had a baseline testosterone test done as well so that you know what your normal level was when you started. The androgen deprivation syndrome is covered in the Primer. Typical symptoms include impotence, loss of libido, mood swings, hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, loss of muscle tone and muscle mass and other less common side effects. One thing you absolutely have to watch on androgen deprivation therapy is your bone integrity. It would be wise to have a qCT scan (a better diagnostic test than the standard DEXA scan) and to start on a bisphosphonate if your bone integrity is or becomes compromised. Oral medications like fosamax and actonel can be used. Better yet, the infused drugs Zometa (preferred) and Aredia can be used to effectively reverse the bone loss associated with androgen deprivation therapy. To see what else your doctor might have overlooked in educating you about the treatment you have already begun, you might want to read the section on androgen deprivation therapy in the Primer. I guarantee you a better understanding of what you will be dealing with. Donna Pogliano Co-author of " A Primer on Prostate Cancer, The Empowered Patient's Guide " Lupron newbie Hi Group Just had my first dose of Lupron and thought I would join the group to find out what to expect that my Doc didn't want to mention. Brief history: I am 63, had a rad prost. in 92, had a rising psa in 93, had radiation in 93, then a rising psa in 98 (very low but doubling every four months), psa got to 2 in 00, then fell back to 1 over the next three years, then started up a year ago and went from 1.8 to 4.2 from May to Aug. Had my first 3 mo dose of Lupron yesterday and will have another in Dec then cycle off and on. Would appreciate any comments on what to expect in way of side effects. Thanks Rip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 Hello Rip, Welcome to the group, and here's to keeping things under control for another 12 years for starters. I trust you had an anti androgen such as casodex or flutamide to prevent testosterone flare, before the Lupron. Side effects come from the lack of testosterone induced by the Lupron, rather than from the drug itself. Testosterone deprivation makes itself felt in men in different ways. Some have few, or only mild effects, and others have more severe ones. There is no standard response. Weight gain around the tummy and breast area, hot flushes (flashes) and sweats, loss of libido/impotence, a tendency to become "more emotional", a deterioration of mental acuity, loss of muscle tone, and a tendency towards osteopenia or osteoporosis are all common. Exercise and keeping on the go from the outset can help. Talk to your doc about keeping an eye on bone density. . -----Original Message-----From: Rip Van Winckel Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2004 6:02 PMTo: ProstateCancerSupport Subject: Lupron newbieHi GroupJust had my first dose of Lupron and thought I would join the group tofind out what to expect that my Doc didn't want to mention. Briefhistory: I am 63, had a rad prost. in 92, had a rising psa in 93,had radiation in 93, then a rising psa in 98 (very low but doublingevery four months), psa got to 2 in 00, then fell back to 1 over thenext three years, then started up a year ago and went from 1.8 to 4.2from May to Aug. Had my first 3 mo dose of Lupron yesterday and willhave another in Dec then cycle off and on. Would appreciate any comments on what to expect in way of side effects.ThanksRip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 Thanks for your replys. I wonder what your thoughts are on the timing of the side effects. How soon do each start (flashes, impotence, weight gain, ect.) and how does cycling off at six months affect them (Doc said the osteoporosis was not as much of a concern because of the cycling) . Also, any info on how soon the effects go away after cycling off. Thank you all again. Rip > Hello Rip, > > Welcome to the group, and here's to keeping things under control for another > 12 years for starters. I trust you had an anti androgen such as casodex or > flutamide to prevent testosterone flare, before the Lupron. > > Side effects come from the lack of testosterone induced by the Lupron, > rather than from the drug itself. Testosterone deprivation makes itself felt > in men in different ways. Some have few, or only mild effects, and others > have more severe ones. There is no standard response. > > Weight gain around the tummy and breast area, hot flushes (flashes) and > sweats, loss of libido/impotence, a tendency to become " more emotional " , a > deterioration of mental acuity, loss of muscle tone, and a tendency towards > osteopenia or osteoporosis are all common. Exercise and keeping on the go > from the outset can help. Talk to your doc about keeping an eye on bone > density. > > . > Lupron newbie > > > Hi Group > Just had my first dose of Lupron and thought I would join the group to > find out what to expect that my Doc didn't want to mention. Brief > history: I am 63, had a rad prost. in 92, had a rising psa in 93, > had radiation in 93, then a rising psa in 98 (very low but doubling > every four months), psa got to 2 in 00, then fell back to 1 over the > next three years, then started up a year ago and went from 1.8 to 4.2 > from May to Aug. Had my first 3 mo dose of Lupron yesterday and will > have another in Dec then cycle off and on. > Would appreciate any comments on what to expect in way of side effects. > Thanks > Rip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 Kathy My Doc is very well respected in the med community and has been my Doc for 12 years now. I am a newbie to the use of Lupron, not to PCa. His comment when I inquired about the cassodex was that he wanted to keep it in reserve (He knows my ins would cover it). That there is some indication now that it does not perform what it is reputed to. This is a new approach for him in the last year or two. Prior it was to use two drugs in combination. Please do not pick at my words as they are as precise as I can recall. Rip > > Donna said: The intermittent androgen deprivation regimen described in > the Primer calls for the use of three agents, not just one, > > I am curious. I am hearing more and more of men who are being prescribed > just one agent rather than 2 or 3. This is happening with men being > treated at centers of excellence and some of them have been switched > from two or three agents to one. I am sure this is not just to save $ or > to no longer line the pockets of the pharmas but I do not know the logic > to this apparent switch in hormone therapy. Does anyone know the > clinical reason for this? > > Kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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