HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Lupron holiday

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/17/2019 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hello All. I have a Question reg lupron . My husband is a G9 and we were told very convincingly after his Davinci 2 yrs ago in August 2017 that the absolute only possible treatment is HT and that he’ll be on it for life , with occasional breaks for T recovery. That said , his last shot was dec 2018 and psa in July undetectable. Next appointment is Jan 2020. Should nt we be checking the psa now In case he needs the lupron now rather than waiting 3 more months?
Posted 10/18/2019 12:25 AM (GMT 0)
Please tell us what kind of Lupron shot (3-months, or whatever) he got Dec 2018
Posted 10/18/2019 1:08 AM (GMT 0)
I think that he should have PSA every three months at a minimum and while off treatment I'd have the ultrasensitive PSA. There are different ways of handling these things but my opinion is that if a recurrence happens the sooner it is detected and treated the better. I understand that this has not been proven but it is my opinion and that's how I want to be treated. Keeping the number of cancer cells as low as possible for as long as possible just makes sense to me. Your husband has a high risk for recurrence and should have a high level of surveillance to detect recurrence as soon as possible. Even if he had a 6 month Lupron injection last December his testosterone is likely recovering by now but it would be a good idea to check testosterone now to see where he is. Hopefully all is well but you need the facts.
Posted 10/18/2019 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
From what I can tell your husband seems to be getting his PSA tested at 6 month intervals. If that’s correct it’s surprising to me. I personally would also want to be having my PSA checked every 3 months.
Posted 10/18/2019 9:56 AM (GMT 0)
JkorourkeRN for husband, I just got home from my check-up at Mayo last week and had some great news. I was undetectable again so get to take a break from Lupron hopefully a 30+ year break!! The urology dept of my Mayo team wants me to test every 3 months for a yr because of my pathology report. My pathology report was not quite as severe as your husbands so just going by my experience I would think that every 3 months would definitely be in the cards. I will get a testosterone check at 6 months.. Wishing you and your husband the very best in your PCA journey!

Larry
Posted 10/18/2019 11:11 AM (GMT 0)
The rule of thumb with leuprolide chemo is that it takes as long to recover from an injection as the injection is timed for. That means that it will take 3 months to recover from a 3 month shot or 6 months to recover from a 6 month shot. The recovery and chem efficacy is marked by the PSA testing.
Posted 10/18/2019 1:28 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys for the replys and support. I 'm on my own navigating the treatment questions/concerns because he refuses to discuss it and I have to accept that is just how he copes. It s called burying his head in the sand ! The injections were the 6 mo so that aligns with the next Appt. I m not comfortable waiting till Jan when I don t know how fast it can reoccur. Maybe I m just a worrier. He does feel and look better off the Lupron though so that's a plus. I m just going to have the PSA ordered . With the pathology report, I have to assume the PSA is rising. Thanks All and Best to you guys.
Posted 10/18/2019 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with others that tests every 3 months would be better. Not knowing for 6 months at a stretch would definitely jack up my anxiety. I've been on break from Degarelix (Fermigon) since May. When I was about to start my break my MO said he'd order quarterly tests. But I'm in the control group of a clinical trial and the trial nurse reminded him that the trial protocol required monthly tests. So if it weren't for the trial I'd be on tests every 3 months.
Jim
Posted 10/18/2019 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
Just to add to Trail guys post, It will take as long as you have been on lupron to get lupron out of your system from my understanding of what I was told at Mayo. If you have been on it 2 yrs like me expect 12 to 18 months before a person can really feel more comfortable with undetectable readings as the lupron will no longer be masking the PCA.

Larry
Posted 10/18/2019 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
The Lupron was supposed to be fully active until May of this year which means that a large amount should have been washed out by now. This agrees with your husband feeling and looking better of late. Therefore, I agree with the others that a current PSA would be informative. Hopefully, it will be (very) low or 'undetectable'.
Posted 11/6/2019 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks All He just got good news, Undetectable. Therefore, is it safe to assume that it s in remission now since he has not had a Lupron shot in 10 mo. ? I m still not clear if the system is cleared of the drug. last 6 mo injection was at the end of Dec 2018. next Appt is Jan 2020 . The doc told him he won t get another Lupron inj until the PSA
Posted 11/6/2019 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
JkorourkeRN for husband,

Unfortunately not. I am on the 3 month shot and it took almost a year for my PSA to start to rise.

But that's how intermittent ADT works, get a shot wait, when it starts to rise you typically will have to wait for yet another PSA test so that the doctor can determine PSA doubling time.

My first time, I got my shot after the third PSA test, that's after PSA started to rise.
Posted 11/6/2019 8:30 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks And how are you doing alephnull? Im still learning about Eligard
Posted 11/6/2019 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
I'm doing alright. The Lupron side effects suck, but it's better than the alternative.

In another 5 months I'll probably get to go back on a vacation.
Then I can start to feel like a man again, although I've gotten so used to the Lupron it's getting to feel normal.
Posted 11/7/2019 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
Jkorourke:To get a better idea of what's going on, ask for a testosterone test.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply