Ok hi James...nobody jumped back into this pit yet, so will say what I know in my own case as truthful and fact in my experience. Nobody has to agree or like such. Also will mention other observations in alternative hormone users.
ADT drugs- I prefer Zoladex over Lupron even though 'Z' will leave a nice black n blue mark on your stomach for a month or more, my uro doc switched me after about
9 mos. and hedidn't ask me if I wanted to be switched..the billing statement I saw at the counter that the gal handles showed Zoladex $1300 and Lupron was like $2100 or around that area, I remember seeing back in 2002-2003. (is that a CLUE??)
The side effects were pretty nasty for 2 yrs. using such- hot flashes, sweats, muscle fatigue, muscle atrophy you can see happening, weight gain you didn't ask for, then to know it can cause done density loss (long term can be really significant), memory loss and such. However it usually controls psa pretty well...for awhile, some high risk patients may only get 1-2-3 yrs. out of usefulness, then witness it failing to control psa levels.
Zufus- trys DES 1-mg in early 2005 after onco-doc gave me a Journal article on DES that was most enlighting to read. Took the drug the first month without boobs radiated(then radiated with electron rays and appears to stop that) or another drug to prevent gynecomastia side effect (breast can enlarge...can happen on casodex or avodart/proscar perhaps). Took only with aspirin the first month as written in Journal article, changed that for additional safety to use coumadin/warfarin with it a blood thinner to prevent possible dvt's or maybe a clot scenario. You do an INR Pro-time test on your blood as to co-augulation times to determine level of coumadin that might be used.
Well cancelled side effects from Lupron that was still in me at that time (nice). Found it has basically no side effects for me, except occassional breast nipples tenderness (bumping them actually hurts). Excellent control and lowered psas, stabilized well enough I went off it for one year as my own tests (leap of faith program). Nice to hear in Journal of Urology article all the benefits on this drug that has been in use since like 1940, bone density is not depleted and may actually help bone density, memory loss is not associated with this drug, weight gain is not happening (my weigh is excellent on this 162 lbs. 5'11"), strenght is improved, compared to ADT useage blanking night and day difference. Not to mention 4-5 yrs. of control on my psa that ADT3 should was starting to fail psa control. Then let's mention it cost around $125 per year(I have likely the lowest cost source)...no patents on this...the drug companies(was patented) stopped making it about the time Lupron was introduced.(hmmm..)
Today you can only get the man made DES, compounding pharmacies make it...some call it veterinary grade (cool make me an apha male then and bark or howl). It works basically is the message, it was used for decades in VACBURG VA useage as primary therapy..the bad press on this was dumbies gave patients 5-mg (to much) and no blood thinner or aspirin...so some patients got dvt's or blood clots...which helped kill its useage. Most docs today who are actually unfamilar with the Journal Article I mentioned, will say it is dangerous and will cause clots...thus no Rx or I don't use it. Well there is no money in it and doc might assume a risk in a rarer patient and get a lawsuit scenario...so many avoid the whole thing by bad mouthing its useage. (totally objective?)
I had a guy contact me and his doc was willing to prescribe such but leary. He wondered if 1/2 mg would work on PCa....I said yes without having any medical schooling...his doc (whom should be the expert) says it is to low a doseage and probably won't work. The friend decided to try it 1/2 mg use (split the capsule apparently), and guess what it worked for him and he says his doc was surprized and probably more surprized that a dumb @#@*^ layperson said it would work. I get a kick out that as being the under educated cable guy vs. the expert.
As further evidence of people using estrogenics with good things to say on them, the leader of UStoo.org has written (Wichita posting we got a while back)..has done estrogenic gel or patch method (estradiol) for 5 yrs. now...maybe contact him and ask about it.
Dr. Fred Lee a PCa for many years uses estrogenic emcyt with fabulous results and wrote about his PCa journey. Gee and informed guy like that and no Lupron or LHRH (hmmm).
Dr. Premoli in Argentina uses estradiol patches as primary therapy on most of his PCa patients, I have talked with him in the past, he claims no dvt's and blood clots or events and patients are doing very well using such. Same kind of info is written about this in the UsToo.org (Wichita) posted message on this forum not long ago.
Also how many docs will ask you do you prefer to take casodex mono therapy or Lupron (LHRH) therapy??? Both usually work well in patients(for awhile), right now OhioState-Andrew is doing excellent on mono therapy with casodex (plus tamoxifen), so well he took holiday and is off drugs for months so far and monitoring psa. Dr. Lee has said his case appeared to be the worst case of PCa he has seen (into bladder and such). So why not casodex or nilandron and other flutamides offered more??? There is no profits on these drugs for the uro-doc or doc to get. Dr. Labrie has written many PCa studies on mono therapy with casodex.
One could switch drugs as a choice or do both for added possible control and some do just that. Casodex should be given prior to any LHRH drug given, as Dr. Strum elaborates on the issue of PCa flare up, while LHRH downreglates maybe after 14 days of T level spikes.
Degarelix (GnRH) similar concept to Lupron, but does not have the flare issue and drops T level in like 24-48 hrs., new and FDA approved, so how many docs are putting this forth right now??? Some talk that it may work when LHRH drug is failing, that is interesting factor.
Some people use proscar or avodart and get results, especially in the after doing ADT3 intially like the Leibowitz protocol. Those drugs used as maintenance thereafter and they usually have little side effects wintessed. Maybe breast enlargement might occur or other minor issues, you could read about.
Ketoconazole- found useful in patients trying such (may have some side effects to worry about)
There are other drugs I have not mentioned that are found useful and patients can talk about their useage on them and I didn't even touch on chemo world, it has is own various combos, protocols, types to chose from, etc.
Vaccines are the future, get to the genes level and eventually fix the issues or restore it to normal...they are working on that.
Now is PCa a Jungle, Twilight Zone and patients living in limbo land??? Bizzaro land!