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Posted 9/9/2011 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
Well I think I'm having Hot Flash -either that or am coming down with something - not sure which I prefer - the hot flashes or the coming down with something.

Yesterday and today I will have periods of a hour or so where I'm quite warm, actually breaking onto a light sweat. Than it will pass and I'm fine for awhile.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
Bud
Posted 9/9/2011 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
Are you doing radiation or any of the other treatments that are known to cause hot flashes?

Posted 9/9/2011 7:51 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the club. I have been having them for 11 months. They were the worst the first three months and some evenings I would literally rip off my shirt only to be cold 20 minutes later. In the dead of winter I would roll down my window of the car and turn on the AC. At night it was covers off...covers on...covers off....covers on.....my dear wife couldn't stand it!

I tried Megestrol nand it helped a little but made me very hungry so I quit. Since then I have found the best thing is to keep busy, stop caffine, and get more excercise. My flashes are now milder more like a warm glow comes over me and usually more at night than in the day.
Posted 9/9/2011 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
Bud, I'm sure you already know that hot flushes are a normal side effect of the bicalutamide you are taking.

There are possible countermeasures; not all are effective for everyone. Talk to your doctor. One possible (common) solution is transdermal estrogen patches or DES.

Here's some reading material: http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/hot-flash-prostate0210
Posted 9/9/2011 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
<<One possible (common) solution is transdermal estrogen patches>>

I was told by my medical oncologist, Gary Spitzer, just last week when I inquired about this possible solution to my frequent hot flashes, that any introduction of estrogen will promote the production of testosterone.

The higher the level of testosterone the more likely for it to become the deadly blood borne transmitter of prostate tumors. It makes sense to me to keep my testosterone as close to castrate levels as possible and continue to suffer the many side effects as a consequence.

Be careful out there!

Mitch in SC

Posted 9/9/2011 9:29 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks all for the responses. This is what my treatment is currently and the dates

_ Casodex– 2 tablets a day - started on 22 July - at my last Oncology appointment on 29 August it was decided I would stop taking this and would hold it in case was needed down the line.
_ Zoladex – First treatment 4 Aug – Early Nov is next
_ Zometa (for bone)- First infusion was 8 August, had the second infusion on 6 Sept.

Trying to look on the bright side, hot flash is attributed to a lack of testosterone, as I have prostate cancer in the bone (active but thankfully the bones look normal on a X-Ray), must mean the treatment is working and my testosterone has indeed dropped which is starving the cancer cells in the bone.

Me and the wife went to the mall today, she went dress shopping I went mall working, experienced a hot flash while walking. I walked more, got a pretzel and a lemonade and devoured the same and that calmed things down some.

First side effects for me!

This is from https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=2169075&p=4 - a snippet from my last Oncology visit on why stopping Casodex;
After we all sat down, exchanged general greetings - the basic question from the Doc (do you have any pain - my response no), how about side effects - my response well I have been having some issues sleeping - wonder if it could be the Casodex that I take right before bed time (I keep the Casodex on my night table along with my glaucoma eye drops) - Doc said Casodex would not affect sleeping but to try taking in the morning. Ok that works for me. Than he went on and said normally they TELL patiants to stop taking Casodex after they have been on the Zoladex - BUT since I am so engaged and have been doing so much 'homework' - If I felt the Casodex was helping I could continue - BUT they prefer to stop it as soon as they can and than use it further in the treatment if it is needed. We had a long discussion and decided I'd stop the Casodex now and continue the Zoladex, Zometa and Calcium 500 MG / Vitamin D 200 .

Post Edited (Raddad) : 9/9/2011 3:39:28 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/9/2011 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
Bud,

Welcome to the world of hot flashes. I found that I was able to adapt with various coping mechanisms over time .. avoiding trigger situations as much as I can. It does not stop them but it is perhaps not quite as bad as when they first started. For example, I quite using a blanket at night. I have a ceiling and floor fan that blows across the bed. I wear lighter clothing, etc. I get in the swimming pool a lot during the summer. Good luck! Keep posting and if I think of other tips I will add on.

Posted 9/12/2011 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
Casey59 - Thanks for the link, I have been looking at it. Interesting in the write up it says only 23% of men seek treatment.

Mitch128 - I spoke with my in-house Doctor(son-in-law) and he said the that (what your doc said) sounds right - he is going to check with some of his doctor friends when are closer to this field. I'll share what I hear back

Southern Comfort - Triggers - such as what?
JNF mentioned stopping caffine - I had stopped but than someone gave me a 1 cup coffee maker to try out for them - So i started drinking a cup of coffee in the morning. After seeing JNF's statement I stopped again - but still getting the hot flashes.
So far I can't figure out anything that triggers the hot flashes, though drinking something (water,juice) seems to calm the flashes down - but that can just be in my mind:)

Thanks gents for your responses - sorry to be delayed in responding.

Bud

PS My theory , hence hot flashs are a good sign . Hot flash is due to low T. Less T to feed cancer cells - the better. I've convinced myself - so all you can agree with me (even if have to fib a bit <grins>)
Posted 9/12/2011 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
Bud,

My triggers are typically involve a physically hot situation .. getting into a hot car in the summer, exercising, hot drinks such as coffee, stuffy rooms, being physically active, etc. I do not stop doing these things but I try to mitigate the best I can .. I don't wear a shirt when exercising at home. Keeping a fan going. Wearing light clothes. Floor fan at night. No blankets. Sometimes no sheets either. These do not stop the hot flashes but tend to lessen the intensity. My office environment is kept fairly cool so I almost never get hot flashes at work. Bottom line: the hot flashes are irritating but, for me, they do not rise to the level of wanting additional drugs, at least for now.

And yes, hot flashes are a good sign your testosterone level is dropping .. which, unfortunately, is the goal.

Posted 9/12/2011 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
Of course, just as soon as made the last post about rarely getting hot flashes at work .. I was typing and drinking my Dunkin Donuts coffee .. and wham! Oh well.
Posted 9/12/2011 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
Mitch128 said... I was told by my medical oncologist, Gary Spitzer, just last week when I inquired about this possible solution to my frequent hot flashes, that any introduction of estrogen will promote the production of testosterone. Bud/Mitch, This appears counter to what I've learned... Estrogen patches are a common, and mostly effective, solution to hot flushes in men after hormonal therapy (which is obviously used to drive DOWN testosterone) for prostate cancer .   Estrogen treatments (very specifically, in patch form) are also used in some advanced PC patients for the sole purpose to drive DOWN testosterone.   Studies have compared the results to LHRH therapy, and have placed estrogen patches “in the PC treatment arsenal.”    I’m no doctor, but may be worth inquiring with your oncologist.   Also be aware that there may be dualing side effects when used for reducing hot flushes…everyone responds/reacts differently. Here’s a LINK to a medical study abstract published at PubMed (online database run by the National Institutes of Health).   In the results section, it reports 83% of men reported either mild, moderate, or major improvement in symptoms with either the low or high-dose patch.   One of the conclusion sentences:   “ Transdermal estrogen appears to be a promising, well-tolerated therapy for men with hot flushes after endocrine treatment for prostate cancer ”…I think that this describes you well enough to check it out. Here’s some reading material for you out of the ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncologists) about estrogen patches for PC/testosterone:   LINK . best wishes…
Posted 9/12/2011 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
Casey

Thanks for the information. Wow this gets confusing in a hurry! One source says No, another earlier source says appears as a promising treatment the third source says something else.

I'm a Engineer and am used to If A and B than C. Not this medical stuff of if A and B than maybe C or maybe not C or maybe D! <grins >

SO far we have from linked reports;

From [url]http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/hot-flash-prostate0210

The source is Lancet Oncology, published online December 4, 2009

At the end of that it states;
CPA is not available in the United States, and an overview of 27 anti-androgen trials published in 2000 found that CPA might actually worsen the disease. Parnes said that “the meta-analysis raised concerns regarding the safety of CPA.”

The first link in your most recent post Casey is dated 2000 Jan. Thats the one that concludes with;Transdermal estrogen appears to be a promising, well-tolerated therapy for men with hot flushes after endocrine treatment for prostate cancer.

The second link in the action points says
Note that estrogen therapy is not approved for treating prostate cancer

Note, too, that this study was published as an abstract and presented as a poster at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered to be preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Definitly will be discussing with my medical team.

Knock on wood have not had a Hot Flash all day today!

Bud
Posted 9/13/2011 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
Yup...I'm no doctor (I'm an engineer), but I do know that men taking HT to achieve chemical castration levels are commonly prescribed estrogen transdermal patches for relief of hot flush symptoms. I'm not recommending estrogen patches for you...I don't give recommendations. I'm just saying that estrogen patches are a commonly prescribed solution for men in your same shoes. I am recommending that you talk to your medical oncologist about countermeasures for hot flushes. Some guys just live with it without trying to do anything about it...personally, I'd want to have the conversation.

Q:  What's the difference between scientists and engineers?

A:  Engineers use science to solve their problems.  But whether the science is available or not, the problem must be solved, and whatever form the solution takes in the end...that is engineering.

Posted 9/13/2011 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
I understand Casey and you know I really do appreciate all the information you provide.

And yes - I will be having the conversation with the doctors.


Got a laugh over "difference between scientists and engineers" - Yes very true the problem needs to be solved - such is engineering:)
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