When hormones stop working

[Guest guest]

Terry:

Regarding my prior post about ADT meds and your decision to go with Zoladex. I have re- read a post that I copied that has a title of 'Hormonal Therapy Explained' by J. Catalona, MD.

Am not sure who sent this (perhaps you did? or Kathy). It has been sent before, I believe.

What I try to understand is with so many different meds to shrink the prostate - slow the cancer down, why so many different that surely have lots of explanation about using each one of them?

I quote from the article , " Primary Hormonal Therapy---- Most prostate cancer cells either die or go into a dormant phase when the blood level of the male hormone, called testosterone, and its far more potent derivative, called dihydrotestosterone, are dramatically lowered.

One method of lowering the testosterone level is by removal of the testicles (called castration or orchiectomy).

Another is by injections of a lutenizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analog, called Lupron (leuprolide) or Zoladex (goserelin), These injections come in 1,3,4,6, and 12 month perparations.

A third alternative is antiandrogen pills, such as Megace (megestrol), Eulexin (flutamide), Casodex (bicalutamide), Nilandron (nilutamide). (one patient on this site had to give up flutamide because of bad side effects).

These medications block androgen receptors in the tissues. They are also usually used during the initiation of injection therapy to block the testosterone "flare up" response that occurs during the first few weeks following the initial injection." end quote.

What I had prviously asked was what were you given in discussion as to what or which patient will get which medications, because none of the foregoing was ever mentioned by my Urologist when he suggested a yearly implant of leuprolide, and after several months did not lay on any other meds to counteract what side effects I was experiencing.

There are so many other descriptions in this article one interesting statement he makes is, " The goals in treating advanced prostate cancer are to maintain a high quality of life, relieve symptoms, and prolong survival. These goals can require the use of other medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents as well as stronger narcotic medications."

Glorioskie.!!!!!..... if this is the premise of treatment and one has a poor response, suffers a non high quality of life or has no relief of symptoms with the treatment.....Just what can one expect the doctors to administer at that juncture?

Thanx

Bill