HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Visit With My Uro/Onc Today

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/10/2011 11:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hello All:

Had my 3 month visit with Uro/Onc today. PSA remains undetectable at <0.04. Last injection of Zoladex (HT) was February, 2011. "T" levels are beginning to climb from 0.7(castration level) to 1.4 at present. Hopefully I will be able to remain in my "off cycle" program as long as possible.  It is a good sign that the PSA is remaining constant at this time. 

Jack

Posted 11/11/2011 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
Jack,

That's sounds like a good and encouraging report on your situation, hope it stays that way for you for a long time.

david in sc
Posted 11/11/2011 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks David. It means a lot coming from you.  You offer words of encouragement as well as you keep fighting for others as much as you do yourself.  Very commendable quality in you.

Jack

Posted 11/11/2011 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
Jack,

Obvioiusly, the HT has done you well, how have you done with side effects? Anything other than the hot flashes? Any emotional changes or tendencies for depression?

David
Posted 11/11/2011 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
Am I depressed as a direct result of the HT (zoladex in my system) or does the depression come about mourning the loss of testosterone in my body, the loss of muscle mass no matter how much strength training I do, the weight gain of 15 pounds around my middle that won't come off through all of the aerobic exercize, the loss of my sexual appetite and ability, and an overall feeling that enough is enough?  So which came first?  In spite of all the SE's from this line of treatment, I know it was the right thing to do. Regrets? None. Will I do it again if I have to? Will cross that bridge in a long, long time from now. That sounded depressing and I am normally an upbeat person, the optimist.  One good thing is that I have an appointment with an ED Specialist and I am going to try TriMix.  That might lift my spirits. Wow! Where did all that come from?
Posted 11/11/2011 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
Kind of like the chicken or the egg story. In my situation, still not being advised to start HT (yet) by my oncologist, but I am still not even close to having the mindset to do so. I have been through, and still going through, enough physical hell and pain the past 3 years to last a lifetime. The physical side of the HT side effects doesn't bother me to think about as much as the potential to cause emotional issues or depression, on in some cases, anger. I don't want to do anything that would make me uptight or agitated toward my wife and family. Also, it's important to me to be able to think clearly at all times. On the sexual side of HT, since I am in the rare club of zero ED ever, it would hard for me to put myself into the situation to end what I view as a good thing. My sex life is exactly the same pre-treatments, with the exception of the dry ejaculations. I got over that part real fast, as the trade off has been long, lingering, intense orgasms, far better in quality to anything I ever had pre PC.

But, when and if, it becomes a life or death choice for me, still being open minded enough to consider going the HT route, if I were convinced it would make a difference. I am still healing from all the other nonsense I have been dealing with.

david
Posted 11/11/2011 5:29 AM (GMT 0)
Jack,

Good report on the numbers. I just wanted to offer some encouragment on the weight gain. I put on 22 lbs my last year on lupron and just started my second round in July 2011 after 19 month holiday. I was still having a fitful time with lethargy and the weight gain from the first roung of lupron and then my GP and cardiologist told me I was diabetic. I got motivated and lost 34 lbs by September 2011.

You may already be doing this but I read a blurb on controlling blood glucose that noted riding the exercise bike and doing three thirty second intervals as fast as you can pedal would help. I started doing that and the weight literally began to melt off. I now do the following:

Minutes 1-5. 30 second intervals of maximum effort.

Minutes 6-10 good pace.

Minutes 10-13. 30 second intervals of max effort.

Minutes 14-20 good pace.

Minute 20-23. 30 second intervals of max effort.

Minutes 24-30 good pace and five minute cool down.

I also do weights on alternate days full body workout. Like you I just cannot keep the muscle mass but have definition. Not as hard either but toned. Guess that is the low T.

One other thing I have noticed is I do not have as many nor as intense hot flashes this round. I attribute that to the exercise.

Oh, the blood tests last month all looked good for the lipids and blood glucose. But I am working my butt off. (literally tongue ) You will start to feel better as the T levels rise. I know I did. Took about six months to really notice the difference.

Best to you,

Don

Posted 11/11/2011 3:14 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks Don. I will start on the interval training again. I watch my sugar intake but am always leary of these issues. I used to walk at a brisk pace for 2 and run 1 for 30 minutes straight. Right now I am walking at a brisk pace on the treadmill. Of course I have kept up with the strength training. I also use to skate hard when I coach hockey teams, power skating classes. I still skate but not with the same strength. I am trying to get back to that level again. Tonight is my next session.  I have some indications of "rising T" so I'll drain all that I have on the ice then. So far I am going on 9 months since the last injection. My Dr. told me yesterday that the Zoladex was out of my system, although it sure doesn't feel like it.  I am now focusing on getting back into shape and concentrating on ED issues.  Three and a half years has taken its toll.  For now I am placing the PCa on the very back burner and trying to forget about where I have been and I am looking more in this new direction. Thanks for the encouraging words.  All the best to you and Dave meeting new challenges, as I like to put it.

Jack

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply