Re: Degarelix or orchiectomy

[Guest guest]

lindasidlow84790 wrote:

> My husband was recently diagnosed with advanced protate ca. It

> is in the bones so removing the prostate is not an option. We

> have been told about the above 2 options. Degarelix is a new

> hormone treatment recently approved by FDA and you know what

> the other option is! Anyone had any experience with either?

> This whole situation is so confusing. Its like going to a big

> buffet dinner and not know what to pick!

I have no experience with Degarelix. In the U.S., the most

commonly prescribed androgen deprivation drug is probably Lupron.

Others that are common include Zoladex and Trelstar and Eligard -

which I believe is the same as Lupron.

I have used Lupron. I didn't like it, but it beat the

alternative of no drug at all.

Personally, I would prefer to take one of the drugs than to be

castrated. Part of the reason is purely emotional. I wouldn't

want my testicles amputated.

There are also a couple of other reasons. With a drug, if it has

unbearable side effects, your husband can try another drug, or

stop all drugs. With castration the changes are permanent.

With a drug, in the unlikely event that it really completely

stops the cancer (this is very unlikely if the cancer is already

far advanced), it is possible to take " intermittent " therapy.

That means that your husband would take the drug for a while, for

example for a year or two, and then get off it for a while until

the PSA began going up a significant amount, then get back on.

Again, castration is permanent. There is no way to escape it for

a while.

All the drugs have side effects, as does castration. You and

your husband should learn about them and prepare to counter them.

Best of luck.

Alan