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Coping with Lupron and Casodex.

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Posted 12/14/2008 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
Would like to hear how others deal with the side effects of Lupron and Casodex. I my self have been on both since March of this tear. Early on I experienced a wide range of emotions along with the fact that I had prostate cancer. Since then everything has come into balance and I am toloerating the effects well. I'm interested in hearing how others deal with effects if any at all.

Thanks.

Posted 12/14/2008 6:57 PM (GMT 0)

Hi aspen,
I am nearing my final of a two year round of Lupron that is complimented with daily Casodex of 50MG.  Starting in May '09 we are scheduled to see if my remission is durable without these drugs.  This list of side effects did come into play but I have little issue coping with them.  Here are the SE's as I have experienced them:

Libido ~ I have none.

ED ~ After surgery I was able, after this type of chemo and radiation and with no libido, I don't have erections.

Hot Flashes ~ Yup!  I have one room in the house I keep cooler than the rest of the house.  And if I have to, I can sleep in there better on a night where the flashes make it hard to sleep.

Weight gain ~ This has been an issue for me.  I told my wife this morning that I can't go to breakfast after church anymore.  (LOL, then she talked me into it again today!)  I said in my blog all I need these days for Christmas is a beard whitener and a sleigh!

Bone Density Loss ~ This has not been measured yet.  We are scheduled in May to run tests.  I do take Vitamin D supplementation and Fosamax.

Fatigue ~ This has been an issue for me on and off.  But I guess after a two year fight that included surgery, HT, and RT, I can count my blessings that I function well at work, and I play hard.  

Depression ~ This is the most serious SE.  I did have some but I am clear of it now.  I express much encouragement to get help for this side effect and to not hesitate.  If you are having depression while in the fight against cancer you need to treat it. 

I am lookingforward to the day I can stop these treatments.  But I am tolerating it.  No man breasts yet, but I can shop for shoes all day long.  Walt (War eagle) and I are in agreement to open a home decorating store.  And I can talk on the cell phone while shaving and while driving! 

Peace!

Tony

Posted 12/14/2008 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on Lupron for almost four years and Casodex was included for the first 18 months.
I experience the same first three side effects as Tony but not the latter three.

A good low fat diet and exercise can help with the weight gain and fatigue.
Posted 12/14/2008 9:47 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Aspen,

I have been on the Lupron since May of this year. Side effects have been no libido, ED, hot flashes and weight gain. I am gradually working the weight off. I really attribute the weight gain to slowing down some on my execises during the later part of my radiation treatment. I have not had any bone tests so don't know if that is an issue or not. Otherwise it is business as usual. And no man boobs, thankfully.

I only took the Casodex for a month at the start. Sort of curious as to what it adds on a long term basis as I was told it was only needed to prevent the tumor flare from the first Lupron shot.

Don

Posted 12/15/2008 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
Viagra allows me to function but I have no libido and often I must fake an orgasm. This is getting better though. I have always been skinny so wieght gain in a plus for me. No boobies, no depression thank God. I exercize so I have not gotten too sluggish. I take calcium and vitamin D3. I dont know if it is because I have been on the hormones for so long but I no longer really get hot flashes. Maybe they are just normal now. I love chick flicks a lot and I wonder if I look fat in my old jeans. Todd

Posted 12/16/2008 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
Loved that last joke, Todd!!

On Lupron, be sure that you take extra calcium and Vitamin D.. Pete did not do that, and the year long treatment with lupron five years ago before radiation and seed implant, weakened his bones in his hip so very much that he has to have a hip replacment Jan 9....The doctors at that time did not mention extra calcium or Vitamin D...which now he is taking regularly. just a FYI. Diane
Posted 12/16/2008 4:05 AM (GMT 0)
Todd you are hilarious and I am glad you are here on HW.
Now as for your question Aspen, I think Tony summed it up pretty good, for me I exercise all the time and that seems to offset any side effects such as fatigue and weight gain. As for libido well it is like the weather up here it is sub zero as in gone. I haven't tried faking and orgasm yet, but hey who knows what tomorrow brings.
Bottom line is this, Lupron and Casodex are our lifelines so we might as well make friends with it.

peace and love
dale
Posted 12/21/2008 1:56 AM (GMT 0)

Thanks guys

The side effect are similar to many of those on Lupron and Casodex. The side effects are very manageable. Initially it was not that easy. After 9 months things are easier. Maybe it is because of the positive response to the meds.

On my last visit to my oncologist I  asked him about intermittent therapy. His answer was that "we" do want to give this cancer a leg up. Stay the course until something different comes down the pike. Doctor at MD Anderson seemed to think that a lot more attention was being directed our way and that the future holds a lot of promise. Does anyone else feel the same way?

Thanks again guys for being available for all who post here. This site is a gold mine for men battling this disease. I cannot emphasize this enough.

Happy Holidays to all

Posted 7/18/2017 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
Casodex only. Fight weight gain at all times. Sex drive about 50%. Previous surgery gave me ED to begin with. The biggest loss is that of the well being of testosterone. More a lack of interest than anything else.

---------------

Gleason 3+5=8, T3a, failed surgery 1/15, radiation 1/16, casodex started 3/17, PSA down to 0.041 three months after.
Posted 7/18/2017 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
Zrobster, this thread is 9 years old....
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