The Lupron Holiday starts today!

After a full 36 months on Lupron, and 20 months of PSA <0.02, my MedOnc has recommended intermittent androgen suppression (of course, I did inquire about it 4 months ago...). My next Lupron injection was to have been today - so I'm officially on holiday!

I didn't realize that I would feel so nervous about this, but I now realize it's facing the unknown again - will my PSA rise slowly and level off, or just continue a rise above the 'back on Lupron' setpoint of 4.00. My wife is quite anxious about the whole thing, also. I guess the next couple of months will give us an indication.

Does anyone know what I may expect for a 'leveling off' PSA, knowing that my prostate, while quite fried from radiation, is still there? any advice would be appreciated.

Bob

Great going. I was diagnosed in 11/12 as a Stage 4, GL 7 (later upgraded to 9). After 18 months ADT2, a Da Vinci RP and 2 months of IMRT, I have been off HT since May of this year. I am getting tested every month and so far my psa tests have all come back undetectable (<.1). As good as it has been to get this break, it is quite stressful since I am now living in 30 day periods which is very short. I am keeping positive though and hope this holiday will last a long time.

Jerry,
Back in March 2013, after a sudden rise in PSA, found a single vertebral met. This was treated with spot radiation, and it appears to have been knocked back quite effectively. Since this was progressing while under ADT, I received the diagnosis of castrate resistant metastatic. Even though the met was no longer there, you keep the diagnosis for life. Sort of the golden ticket! My theory is that the met was a mutated strain, just a single colony, which was able to thrive without testosterone. Since the spot radiation, PSA has been undetectable for 20 months. And that's how I got Provenge while having undetectable PSA!
Bob

Thanks for all the well wishes!
now, the waiting begins...
Bob