Some HT SE questions

Mel,
I think it differs from patient to patient and younger patients have more side effects than older patients.
The universal side effect is loss of libido. You can still get an errection, but have no desire. Hot flashes vary from severe to mild. Mine were about 2 or 3 times a day and lasted 4 or 5 minutes. There are a lot of meds you can take to alliviate them. Breast growth is also common, but can be controlled with Femera or a low dose radiation to the breast before they start to grow.
More serious side effects are bone loss and muscle loss and higher risk of heart disease, some doctors think the cardiac risk is due to weight gain and not the HT itself. A strict excercise program which includes weight training is strongly recommended.
Some patients experience depression and some don't. I never did, but was only on it for 9 months. To me HT was noticible, but very tolorable, and I would have had no problem doing two years if the effects stayed where they were. My 88 year old cousin has been on intermittant for 10 years and says he has no problems at all. Everyone is different and some have severe side effects. I think it is key to be treated by a knowledgable oncologist who is aware of all the tricks and meds to reduce the side effects. Getting a shot of Lupron from the local urologist every three months and being sent on your way is not the way to do HT.
I also had to take an echo cardiogram and a bone density scan before Scholz would do HT.
JT

John, Mel's synopsis of HT SE.s seems right on mark. I did not experience any emotional swings. Hot flashes were very bothersome initially, about 7-8 a day with at least 2 that woke me up at night. They disapated over time and now I don't really have any that are noticable (9 months into HT). I had breast radiation to avoid the male boob issue, and take vit D and viville patch to maintain bone desity. Both are not an issue for me. I have gained 10 lbs, but my cardiac health is good as well as blood suger. I get tested every 3 months. I have body hair loss, shriveling of equipment, an no sexual desire of course. Really the biggest issue for me is muscle loss. Exercise, weight training is very important, and I negleted it due to work demands. That's my HT story. Oh! I almost forgot the biggest effect, a string of undetectable PSA's (but hopefully that's from the SRT). BB

BB,

While you say you are doing well with HT, your listing of side effects and how you are trying to counter them scares the daylights out of me. That's a lot of side effects, doesn't sound mild to me. I admire you for dealing with all of that.

David

I just had my second six month shot of Eligard yesterday and am also on daily Jalyn. Most noticeable se have been the hot flashes. They have been more frequent but for less time than John T reported. They used to come on only in the day and were sudden. Now they creep up on me, which is better, but also are more at night, which is worse. I find that when I limit caffene and exercise more, they are less noticeable. My doc gave me a rx that I will try and I am likely to try some alternative therapy.

I have diminished libido, but it is not gone, thankfully, and the ADT hasn't diminished ability. I have't had bone problems or loss of muscle mass that I can tell. I initially lost 15 pounds in anticipation of weight gain, gained 12 back, and have lost 5 over the last three weeks. So I am less than I was and would like to lose another 10. My boobs haven't changed.

I have had no change in mood or psychological outlook...no depression or weepiness that is sometimes reported. As everyone is different, my brother's brother in law was on Lupron and got so depressed that he could hardy function. The drugs used to counteract were also problematic and, while they helped, had to be managed carefully. Now his psa is rising and he will go back on ADT.

My se have been minor enough that I could manage this for a long while so long as they didn't get worse. Though I certainly want off of ADT, the reality is that I will probably be on for another year.

Mel, as we're told, everyone reacts differently to HT.  In my case the only physical SE has been the hot flushes which I now control with effenox.  My worst SE is mental.  I knew that when I  started down the HT path, my pca was no longer curable but controlable and palliative.  The experts say that almost all men on HT will, at some time, become refractory and then its chemo etc.  The question on my mind is, will the HT work for one year, two years or 10 years.  Since I am older (69) I say to myself that if I get 8 years out of the HT, I will be in mid 70s and will have lived a good life - my Mayo doc says I may not say that when I hit 75.  This uncertainty with HT is difficult to deal with so I have to keep hoping that I will be one of those who will have success with HT for 10+ years (which is not uncommon.) Also, I am hoping that I will be able to go on intermittent ADT which many of the brothers (and now the experts) say is the way to go. 

I still think you may conquer the beast with your SRT because you had a positive margin which the experts say gives a better chance of successful SRT.

Take care and try to keep a positive attitude.   The Old Sailor 

Interesting responses. It is clear to me that there is 100% probability that I would have at least a couple of SE, ranging from mild to severe.

Old Sailor: The worry about when HT will fail seems to me no different than any of us awaiting our next PSA test (other than the fact that you can be assured that at some time it will fail). It's the same fear awaiting those results.

I guess one big fear I have is this: I'm teaching a class, somebody asks a math question, and all of a sudden I am overcome with emotion and start to cry. In other words, a sudden, unexpected meltdown. I remember a colleague who had a disease and was treated with very high dose prednisone. That happened to her but she was able to leave the room on some pretense so the kids didn't see it. But that would be scary knowing that could (or is likely to) happen. I guess brain fog is another concern. I am very knowledgeable in my area and the idea of suddenly not knowing my subject or being unable to answer routine questions is scary.

Mel