Prostate cancer, hormone therapy, and physical well-being

Ed,

Nothing to be sad about. I just make the point that I don't have an overriding reason to put in my head as an "I must live until then at all costs" date. I often see the comments of putting up with the side effects and issues framed in seeing the weddings of grandchildren, etc.

I have other motivations (quite a bucket list that I can't start on until I retire, which I am far too young to do with what money I have), and a lot of volunteer work. So no, I'm not going to refuse HT if it looks like a few rough months. But I will consider also that living a long, happy, and prosperous life requires a certain level of quality.

But even now, only with the RT, I am saddled with enough SEs that I can't go to a movie, or any event/place where I can't slip out quickly without warning to a men's room, and can't expect to make a whole day without getting socked by the fatigue wall. Those were supposed to be temporary, but they are now permanent. Just think what that did to my job environment. I'm not able to do the job I did before (and truly enjoyed), so for now I am doing what I have to do. So I am somewhat gun-shy of the doctor's promises these days.

 

142, I agree with what you are saying about the permency with the fatigue. My chronic fatigue journey actually began back in 2000 when I underwent the old school neck/throat RT, long before IMRT, etc. Three months after the RT ended, and in those days, being 10 years younger also, I was working like crazy, and then the big crash happened, and I ran into the fatigue wall daily, and it got so bad, that I ended up going to Oncology Rehab (the first time) for nearly a year. My oncologist at the time, said that for some people, it doesn't fade away in weeks or months, and can be permanent. He said at the time, if I could get back to 75% of my pre-RT energy, I would be doing good.

Then saddle that with my SRT at the end of 2009, and the fatigue just componded on top of what I have. For those lucky men whose fatigue is short term, I am glad for them. But for those of us that live with this daily, it's an invisible side effect that never goes away. I have been in re-hab now for about 11 months combined, and so far, there's no improvement. The goal with my doctors is to keep it from getting worse.

By noon today, I was already too physically shot to do anything productive for the rest of the day. I can honestly say I can feel your frustration in the matter, I couldn't imagine having to work under these circumstances, so I suppose I am fortunate there (in a manner of speaking). But it is what it is.

Wishing you the best to keep trying and trudging along. PC is no friend of mine.

David