HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Last lupron injection

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 1/13/2022 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
Today I had my last lupron injection. I had pelvic radiation and 2 years of lupron. My PSA during this time was undetectable. So all I can do now is wait. My next appointment is July 14th to determine if PC comes back. I hope that I am finished and either a cure or very long remission. A 15 year remission will take me to 90.
Posted 1/13/2022 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
Howard, glad you are at least seeing light at the end of the tunnel. I hope and pray that this will be it for you, and you will soon be able to put PCa in the rear view mirror
Posted 1/13/2022 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
Howard, I assume you had a six-month shot, correct? From my experience and knowledge, you should expect to have undetectable PSA in July as the time release depot stays at strength for the six months. Then, Lupron in your system has a half-life of about six months. Thus it will take 2-4 six-month cycles for enough of the Lupron to exit your body and allow the pituitary gland to re-signal the testicles to make testosterone again. So the effects of Lupron stay around for a significant period of time. Testosterone recovery is slowed with advanced age and longer periods of time on Lupron.

I was on for three years and it took about 15 months before my testosterone started rising and about 20 months for it to get back to low normal range. Every one is different and I know some recovered one less than a year and I have known men that took three years to get back to normal levels. The bright side of the low T during recovery is that it still starves the PCa for some time.

Your estimate of a long durable remission is very realistic. Let’s hope that any future treatments to manage the disease are easy on your well-being. Best wishes.
Posted 1/13/2022 11:28 PM (GMT 0)
JNF
I wish it was 6 months. It was 2 years! I had pelvic radiation after PSMA scan located pc in a lymph node which was radiated followed by 2 years of lupron.
Posted 1/13/2022 11:33 PM (GMT 0)

Howard3569 said...
JNF
I wish it was 6 months. It was 2 years! I had pelvic radiation after PSMA scan located pc in a lymph node which was radiated followed by 2 years of lupron.

i think he meant the duration of the shot. i was wondering why you had such aggressive treatment but now i know. you've done everything possible. good luck!
Posted 1/14/2022 12:07 PM (GMT 0)

Hello, Howard3569 ----

You have pursued a multi-tiered treatment plan. There's power in that --- attacking the cancer in more ways than one.

You have a clear-cut & definitive follow-up plan --- with consultations already booked in advance for the year ahead.

Your doctors will lead you forward. Set a consistent schedule for ongoing labwork, in consultation with your doctor.

My doctor is an ace at watching over the fine points of my labwork --- and all of that has helped me "fine tune" and maintain my health goals.

Keep living life out loud --- stay active --- stay in contact with your medical team, as you are doing --- and keep your eyes focused on the future!

With my best wishes ~~~
CYCLONE - # Iowa State University
Posted 1/14/2022 12:22 PM (GMT 0)
Is 6 months too long for a follow up after my last lupron shot on Jan 13? My oncologist believes July 14 is a good date. How long does it take for lupron to clear the body and testosterone to return?
Posted 1/14/2022 12:41 PM (GMT 0)

If it puts your mind at ease, there's no reason why you can't ask for labwork this spring.

Your doctor will surely honor that request, if that puts your mind at ease.

CYCLONE - # Iowa State University
Posted 1/14/2022 12:59 PM (GMT 0)
Howard, re-read my post and apply it to your timeline.
Posted 1/14/2022 9:10 PM (GMT 0)

Howard3569 said...
Is 6 months too long for a follow up after my last lupron shot on Jan 13? My oncologist believes July 14 is a good date. How long does it take for lupron to clear the body and testosterone to return?

i got 3-month lupron shots and my testosterone didn't return three months after the last shot. plus you had two years of ADT versus my nine months so it "could" take even longer for your T to return. but there's no harm to have a PSA test six months after a 6-month shot. maybe have testosterone tested too?

oh..... my doctor asked me once "who keeps checking testosterone on your blood tests?" i told him it was me and he asked me not to do it anymore smile
Posted 1/14/2022 11:41 PM (GMT 0)
It took me over a a year as i recall. to get back close to where i was, after 6 months of ADT, 2 on Firmagon, 4 on Lupron. My RO told me it is generally 6 months to a year, but he suspected that i would be on the faster side. He was obviously wrong. But keep in mind, everyone is different.
Posted 1/15/2022 1:27 PM (GMT 0)
The first time around it took me a full 2+ years to recover (as much as I did, some 'side effects' are permanent) from 2 & 1/2 years of Firmagon>Lupron>Eligard chemo. 1 Dead testicle followed by the other slowly dying, verified by T tests. No recovery from that side effect.

Am now 1 month out after stopping Eligard chemo last month, MO says we will check stuff in a year. I was on Eligard chemo for 2 years even this time around so I expect not to see any recovery (such as it will be) for at least 2 years. Not all that bad considering any remaining PCa would welcome a taste of testosterone. Hopefully it is all dead and gone after the last round of radiation treatments, but I am OK with stalling that discovery for a whiles longer....

I did notice that - when I got the injections on my belly or side - the lump of injected chemicals stayed much longer than its stated endtime. Months longer. Couldn't tell if the injection was in my butt as I couldn't feel those chemo lumps, they were too deep to palpate easily.
Posted 1/15/2022 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
Howard

I just saw my MO this week who told me that next week will be my final injection (Eligard). I receive 3-mth injections so it should begin to wear off by April of this year which would be a total of 25 months on ADT. My MO told me to expect 6-12 months after the effects wear off (so minimum 9-15 months) before T returns to 'normal' levels. He wants me to continue PSA/T checks every 3 months until T returns to normal, then switch to 6 month intervals. With enough time in remission, annual bloodwork may be possible but he thought that would be at least 5 years from now. I'll probably continue with at least 6 month PSA checks. A lot can change in 12 months.
Posted 1/15/2022 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
bottom line: without testing T level a PSA test could be misleading so soon after your last shot and a 2-year course of ADT. your doctor should know this and he probably does
Posted 1/16/2022 7:37 AM (GMT 0)
DB
Thanks, I will probably switch to 3 month T and PSA checks, so April then 6 months if I am still undetectable.
Posted 1/16/2022 1:13 PM (GMT 0)
What data is there to support duration of ADT following EBRT for presumably localized residual cancer following RARP. I am now 2 months into Orgovyx awaiting the start of EBRT for a single spot shown on Pylarify on the right pelvic sidewall (node?). Surgical specimin showed no extension of cancer except into both seminal vesicles (P3b). Despite Gleason 9 pathology, I had hoped for a clean cure. No such luck when post op PSA was .123 and then .2 two months later. Thanks to the advice from this board and a study that was posted, I decided to wait 6 months post surgery to begin Salvage EBRT in order to allow my incontinence to improve - which it did. That study suggested maximum improvement at 6-7 months. I started Orgovyx to buy some time. First month - no problem. Second month is when the night sweats and sleep disturbance kicked it big time. I gained 8 pounds despite diet, going to the gym and running daily. No fatigue or mood changes. I chose the pills (despite the cost) because I wanted to be able to quickly stop ADT when I could. It did not make sense to me that when the SRT was completed and presumably killed off the cancer, that I would need further ADT. I planned to take 6 months of ADT, 2 months before, 2 months during and 2 months following EBRT - then follow PSA off therapy to determine if treatment plan was successful. I meet with radiation oncologist in 2 weeks for my planning session. Is my thinking erroneous? Is there any data for duration of ADT post EBRT in this situation? I am 71, happy to be alive but more happy if I could get rid of ADT.

Post Edited (Dr.V) : 1/17/2022 6:25:20 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/16/2022 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
you can find data to support shorter and longer terms of ADT so really the decision is yours
Posted 1/16/2022 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
Dr.V - Your logic seems sound to me. In 2019, my RO did not recommend ADT with adjuvant radiation, undetectable PSA (<0.10), and my G9 situation.

Intermediate risk (G7) studies have indicated that 2 months of ADT after treatment is as effective as longer duration if used at all. Your PSA is low but rising and a node was observed so ADT makes sense. Not sure that extending the ADT time would make sense unless you plan on throwing the kitchen sink at your G9 which is a personal decision.

Howard - Hope you continue to do well. Six month checks are good, more peace in your life.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply