16 weeks of HT - How bad is it?

Hi and welcome from me. I have done 5 months of Lupron, with 3 to go on my current course of treatment. Did 32 RT sessions at the same time. Good news is that I was able to go to the gym every day, and definitely could keep on fishing.Also don't need to shave as often. Bad news is that I have gained about 20 lbs anyway, and find myself wanting to watch soaps, and go for the BOGO at shoe stores. Hot flashes all the time, bearable during the day, but they wake me up at night, so sleep is not the best. But...I can do this, and so can you.
All the best.
Roger

Hello Bantam,

I am coming up on 2 years of Lupron. Side effects are tolerable and the hot flashes have diminished over time. I kept up my gym routine through my 45 radiation treatments and through the lupron. Still put on 15 lbs and they just do not want to come off. I confess that the last week of my rad treatment I only went to the gym once but I still walked for 45 minutes everyday.

Like John, I am curious about the term of your HT therapy. I did see some research that indicated a short term of six months was beneficial under some circumstances. My oncologist is talking about adding another year to mine.

Best to you.

Don

I did 45 days of Radiation at St. Lukes MSTI in Twin Falls. It was somewhat tiring, but part of that was the 2+ hour drive every day. Towards the end I was getting some skin burning, like a mild suntan where you usually don't get a suntan. I didn't have HT at the same time. I started HT (3 month Zoladex only) last August. Since I had a good PSA drop I skipped 3 months and then had another round of Zoladex in February. My main side effects have been mild to moderate hot flashes that started about 5 weeks after the injection. After the first shot they tapered off after about 14 weeks. As others have said, you really have to watch what you eat and try to keep up the physical activity.

Best of Luck, Dallan

Your one course of Lupron/Casodex probably wont lead to the severe side-effect that I experienced with osteoporosis after 24 months of HT. Fortunately I didn't experience the dreaded hot flashes.
However, no one has mentioned the enlarged breasts and tender nipples that can develop. Mine started developing at about 3 months; 6 months after the last shot they show no signs of returning to normal. With only 4 months of HT you may not notice such changes.
Best wishes for a successful course of treatment.