Question About Lupron

As a Gleason 5+4 I'm now 9 months on Lupron. At least 4 months months PSA reading zero. That's seems pretty good. I started to think... How long not does Lupron last? My MO has me on this for 2 years. Although I hate the big side effect...but I am feeling great. Anyone with history as a G9, using Lupron and Casodex? How long not can I expect these kind of results?

Also...I gained a quick 10 pounds with Lupron but working it off with walking and cutting back sugar. So far so good.

I'd like to hear some 18 month milestone guys. How's it going?


(Post edited to provide a subject)

Post Edited By Moderator (Tudpock18) : 7/30/2017 5:51:11 AM (GMT-6)

My husband is a GL 9.
He just had his third four-month Lupron shot and is on Casodex and Proscar. He last PSA test came back at <.1 for the third time. It's not 18 months but we are grateful for the eight months we've had so far. From what I've read 18-24 months is average for undetectable. The 18-24 months is considered median. I hope you are on the long side of the statistics, as I hope the same for my husband and all men currently in remission on these drugs.

As for weight gain, my husband radically changed his diet on diagnosis. No beef, dairy, sugar at all. Limited carbs, chicken and turkey. More fish and tons of fruit and veggies. Water, tomato and pomegranate juice. He lost the 30 lbs he's been up and down with for two decades and has kept it off. He goes to the gym for an hour almost every day and works in the yard and around the house doing chores such as vacuuming and dusting (he never even knew such chores existed before he retired and I enlightened him).

I would encourage you to be hopeful, keep researching, eat a heart healthy diet and commit to regular exercise. These medications take a toll on your heart so also find a cardiologist to partner with your MO. My husband has lost 20% of his heart capacity since starting the ADT regime. His cardiologist is a regular member of his team in this battle.
Wishing you the best,
Chris

The following reply was provided by Fairwind as you accidentally posted twice on the same subject. I deleted the other post. Jim

Fairwind Said:
Every case is different..You could still be looking at a cure...You won't know until that 2 years is up and they take you off the ADT...The Lupron / Casodex hides the outcome of the SRT. You don't know if it worked or not..
Age now 74 . Diagnosed G-9 6/2010

RALP Sept 3 2010, pos margin, one pos vesicle nodes neg. Post Op PSA 0.9 SRT, HT. 2-15-'11 PSA <0.1 10/'11, <0.1 2/12, <0.1, 4/12 <0.1, 9/12, 0.8 3/13, 0.5 6/13, 1.1, back on HT. 5/16 stay the course, Lupron, Zytiga, PSA <0.1 10/16 no change <0.1 5/17 PSA 1.6 Chemo or Provenge next..

Dr Who said...
I was on Lupron for about a year when my MO added Zytiga to the mix based on these results. In her words, they are game changers. Listed below is a link

Any trouble getting the Zytiga approved by insurance?

I checked my insurance prior approval for and it requires both metastatic and hormone resistant.

Since my nodes showed cancer, per the 68 Gallium PSMA Scan, I pass the metastatic part, but not hormone resistant. I don't know if I could make a case that my T level only went down to 25?

Could be my insurance has not updated pre approval info since those trials completed?

Bobby Mac

Bobby Mac

Annie88 said...
I've met a few guys in the US who have had Zytiga covered in your shoes. In Canada, if you're lucky to get the prescription, it's $50,000/yr.

It's reassuring to read that your MO was all for you adding Zytiga. are you at a major cancer centre?

No Annie, Dr Who's MO was adding him to Zytiga - My MO said no - (:

Bobby Mac

Redwing57 said...
The duration of ADT is an ongoing discussion. 18 months to 2 years seems to be a developing consensus, but my MO was not convinced. She really wanted me to stick out the 3 years, as supported by the Bolla study from 2009. There are other more recent studies that seem to support the shorter duration. Others can argue that. I'm just relaying my experience, for what it's worth.

She commented that duration of hormone therapy is an ongoing discussion in breast cancer. However, rather than how much shorter to continue, they're considering how much longer to continue.

After first assuming that I would be on Lupron for two years, then being told by my Uro that it would be three years, my RO recently informed me that it would be just one year, and will end three months after the end of SRT. I won't be arguing with him on the shorter duration... it's fine with me. One obvious advantage to the one year course is that the success or failure of SRT will be known earlier.