Posted 7/17/2020 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, SteveO ~~~
Good to hear from you, my comrade.
Due to spikes in testosterone and PSA, I actually have been on LUPRON (Eligard), then FIRMAGON, and now ZOLADEX.
There were NO issues transitioning from one form of ADT to another.
That should reassure you. If you need to transition back, I don't think that's an issue, either.
There were no "gaps" in my shots, either --- but because of insurance and dosage protocol, there was no overlap in dosage, either.
In my case, I didn't react well to FIRMAGON. I experienced allergic site injection reactions & swelling that felt like a hornet's sting for several days.
My urologist refused to try anything but LUPRON.
However, my oncologist felt we could get better PSA "control" by trying other forms of ADT.
His visionary foresight led to much better results, and it wasn't difficult to try other forms of ADT. In my particular case, it was necessary.
They say that the "third time is the charm" --- in my case, that was prophetic, as ZOLADEX injections knocked out the fluctuating testosterone and PSA spikes and flares.
For other fellows on ADT --- my lesson learned?
It's very simple --- ask your doctor to order a simple testosterone test the next time you do routine labs. Easy, breezy ... we all visit the lab, anyway.
You want to ENSURE that your form of ADT is knocking out testosterone to tamper down your PSA.
My current form of ADT, which happens to be ZOLADEX, keeps my testosterone below 7, consistently, which helps keep my PSA in check.
Hope something within my story will help.
We stand alongside each other. We share experiences. From that, we learn from each other.
Here's to camaraderie and fellowship!
With my best, from across the miles,
CYCLONE ~~~ # Iowa State University