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Time between HT and starting SRT

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Posted 8/15/2011 4:49 PM (GMT 0)

I started on HT about one month ago-this is not adjuvant for me, as my PSA was never undetectable and rising rapidly. The plan is to start RT 2 months after HT, and this seems to be the average time on most treatment plans. I thought I recalled reading where there were some advantages to waiting slightly longer, perhaps 3-6 months, to give the HT more time to work. Has anyone seen any articles on this?

Also, is it important for the PSA to be undetectable before starting RT?

What about the T levels?

Any insight/experience would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks 

Posted 8/15/2011 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
I started HT 2 months before SRT, but that was not a planned time frame. My radiation dr wanted to start earlier. My PSA was undetectable when I started SRT.
Posted 8/15/2011 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
K-ray;  Her's the study.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/219840.php

I don't believe its specific to SRT, I think it addresses radiation as the primary treatment but I also have to believe that it would be beneficial for SRT.  The MSK namograms give individuals who use HT with SRT a fairly substantial better chance of cure than without it.

Good luck

David

Posted 8/16/2011 6:06 PM (GMT 0)
The paper that formed the basis for this news article indicated that the 3-month ADT started two months before radiation began, but the 6-month ADT started five months before. My radiation oncologist said that some study (perhaps not this one) indicated that ADT should be started two months prior radiation, although he agreed to start mine one month after the start of ADT. My ADT is supposed to last from 9 to 12 months, so I'm not sure if that will have quite the same effect. :(

Thanks for the link.

Nellie
Posted 8/16/2011 10:57 PM (GMT 0)
Although I did not follow this approach, for different reasons, my oncologist typically starts HT at the same time as RT. I think one of the big studies followed the same approach.
Posted 8/17/2011 5:02 AM (GMT 0)
The radiation will stop your progress with incontinence and impotence right where they are when that treatment starts..So you might consider letting the HT do it's thing for a while so you can recover from the surgery as much as possible before starting radiation...

Your "T" level should drop to below 20 and even better, below 10 fairly quickly. You should monitor that because in about 20% of the men on ADT, that drugs don't work as hoped...After 3 months on ADT, your PSA should show a dramatic reduction, hopefully down to undetectable or very close to it...Most doctors will want to start radiation as soon as you have recovered from the surgery enough to allow it....

Best of luck to you...
Posted 8/17/2011 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
Folks would be advised to make sure to get the T-level tested. My oncologist didn't call for it, but my consulting oncologist, Dr. Scholz did. Glad I have him. Lupron doesn't bring somewhere between 10 and 15% of people to less than 20, so testing is important. A recent study showed that effectiveness of these drugs only happens at a T-level of 32 or less, with lower being better. Testing is usually done 4 weeks after the Lupron shot, as it takes at least that long for the T-level to drop to its nadir.

Nellie
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