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ADT and it's effect on cognitive reasoning.

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Posted 10/17/2012 6:06 AM (GMT 0)
This article by Mike on a study by Wu et al. is not a surprise to me. We know we are affected emotionally by ADT and I think I was not as sharp while on the regimen and even since sometimes. But that could be aging too. Still I think this is a noteworthy post by Mike Scott...

prostatecancerinfolink.net/2012/10/12/adt-and-cognitive-function-a-review-and-pilot-study/

Interested in your thoughts (if you have been on this regimen)

Tony
Posted 10/17/2012 11:20 AM (GMT 0)
I contend it is not aging and TC you are not an old fart yet. I don't even feel like an old fart yet (perhaps I forgot my age), although I got 10+ yrs on you and teenagers would consider us 'fossils' and I don't fit into the what's currently happening 'lame-stream' (lol), but still got some of that youth is wasted on the young gene still in me, even after all the 10 yrs. of PCa drugs roller coaster. Myself believe that the cognitive thing of using LHRH and/or some other 'normal' PCa drugs does effect cognitive memory and some patients have complained of such or their spouses have. This is a known aka side effect of using some of the PCa drugs, uro-docs don't probably mention this one or some other significant side effects that can happen. Full disclosure? Beuhler....Beuhler (lol).

Keep on rockin'.....
Posted 10/17/2012 12:28 PM (GMT 0)
I believe it has effected memory -short term memory only (as in.....what's your name again????). and information processing. memory more so than information processing. Not enough to cause me to lose clients, but sometimes I rely on my staff more than before to tell me stuff I just did!!!!!!
Posted 10/17/2012 1:02 PM (GMT 0)
Not only has HT affected my cognitive status, but the effect is retroactive. I am currently blaming twenty years of mental vagueness on my last three months of ADT.
Posted 10/17/2012 1:20 PM (GMT 0)
Tony,

I don't see an effect. But, it is hard to be objective about one's own cognitive ability. My wife is not so sure. She complains a bit about my attentiveness and awareness in driving. Having said that, I have a very complex job and get very good performance reviews. So, my employer thinks I am doing just fine in the cognitive realm.

SC

Posted 10/17/2012 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
I know this is a major concern of mine (I have not yet started HT, but will this year, I think).

As a University Math Prof., I rely on staying sharp.

MB

Posted 10/17/2012 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
No, I haven't been on HT. When my oncologist, who is not for early HT use, was going over QOL issues concerning HT, this was an area that he warned me about. He said that with some men, its barely noticable, and in other cases, it can be a extreme issue. He said it was a real factor that had to be considered before making any HT commitment.

david
Posted 10/17/2012 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
i have been on HT and it may have impaired me a bit but not enough to make any real world difference.  of course if you don't have much to begin with you may be in trouble cool .

anyone who uses cognitive impairment as a reason not to at least try HT is already mentally impaired in my humblest of opinions cool  

ed

 

Posted 10/17/2012 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
SLIGHTLY impaired???

Ed, you forget that we read your posts!

<g>

Mel

Posted 10/18/2012 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
Have to admit it affects me quite a bit.  I cant remember anything anymore...the other day I just got out of the shower and while I was brushing my teeth...I couldnt remember if I took a shower or not...I had to check the towel and my hair to see if it was wet.

My driving has changed a lot too.  If Im driving by myself Im usually OK but If Im with my wife and she starts babbling about something I lose concentration quick. Ive run 4 red lights in the last 2 months and almost got hit once.  I also will miss many turns and cant remember how to get places Ive been driving to for years. It really is a pain sometimes and it annoys me.  My wife has learned to stop talking while we drive though...

another thing Im doing alot now is putting or trying to put wrong caps on things....like trying to put a mayonnaise cap on a ketchup bottle.  I do this almost every day without thinking about it...its just small stuff but I can definately feel a change in my concentration and memory.   Just glad I remembered our 25th wedding anniversary last week...LOL

Post Edited (Casper319) : 10/17/2012 7:05:42 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/18/2012 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
 My wife has learned to stop talking while we drive though...

well you've terrorized the dear lady cool !

ed

 

Posted 10/21/2012 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
I have seen this in my own behavior. I am an engineer and not long ago I was working on a problem at work that involved calculating the velocity of a roll down a ramp and the force with which it would hit the stop and how far it would rebound. It took me all day to set up my spread sheet and even then I kept making minor errors. Finally bagged it. Came back the next day and had it all wrapped up and double checked in a hour. Just could not get the fog out of my head the day before.

I also find myself forgetting things like locking the door on my way out and I go back and recheck. (always locked) Had the same thing on the first round of HT and it went away rapidly when I took a break.

Don

Posted 10/21/2012 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
Don:

Not what I want to hear, but it sounds like you are still able to work??

Frankly, if I can't do a really good job, I'm not sure I would want to go to work.

Me;

Posted 10/22/2012 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
Is this similar to what we call chemo brain? We noticed after he started Taxotere. It did seem to ease when Taxotere was stopped and then went on Zytiga. Now really back since on Jevtana.
Posted 10/22/2012 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, I would say it is similar to "chemo brain" but maybe a bit milder than what I have heard about that.

Mel, yes I am able to work and I do not seem to have problems with stuff I have done for years. Second nature I guess. I seem to have days where things just do not click and now that I recognize it I just let it go for a while or until the next day. I do seem to have trouble with calling up the correct words sometimes but it is not a hindrance.

Don

Posted 10/22/2012 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
My husband was knocked down by a huge wave a few years ago and took a pretty good hit on the head.  about 36 hours later, he'd lost about 20 years of memory.  His long-term memories came back eventually, but his short-term memory, ability to process new complicated info, etc. haven't been 100% ever since.  So when I read about this possible side effect of HT, I was especially worried (he just had a little less excess brain power to spare). 

But so far so good -- he seems about the same to me, and is able to keep up with the intellectual demands of his job (chemist).  I still wouldn't count on him to remember to pick up milk on the way home, but that's been true for a looong time!  tongue      

Posted 10/22/2012 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you SO much for this topic!

My husband is extremely affected with his ability to focus and remain on task.

This is after just 14 months of HT. His job requires him to be on task beyond lots of other types of employment.

To sum it up, you would not want him drafting/crafting the tool that ends up in the Deep Water Horizon.

Has anyone had this experience where this SE improves? And if so, how long did it take?

This is a very serious concern of ours, as it has affected his ability to perform his job at the same levels of "excellence" as indicated in all prior evaluations.

If this question is considered to derail Tony's topic, please disregard in answering
Posted 10/22/2012 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
Well I don't have hdt but I had low T, level was 176,  which is a milder form of hdt and I can definately say I was depressed, confused, lack of sexual drive when I had low T. So Ive been on testosterone replacement therapy for 6 months and I feel less depressed, less confused, and hornier than before. I've been taking testim patches and now trying to get my new insurance to pay for androgel gel patches which they are balking at. So I guess I'll guess i'll go back to the cheapo T shots. Yes I do feel better with a higher testosterone level, for sure...........
Posted 10/22/2012 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
Well let me think about it. What was the question? My uro told me that during my adt holiday that I was getting smarter. Lack of testosterone ( oops I forgot what I was gonna say) big 5 has a sale on running shoes. I got a nice pair of asics. My wife and I watched the ghost of girlfriends past last night. I still would have prefered to watch battleship. I cried at the end of the hanna montana movie....you guys are my bff' s Todd
Posted 10/22/2012 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
Todd, do us a favor and stay off Facebook, and please, please, please do not friend request us if you can't.,,,ok?? devil
Posted 10/22/2012 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Laughs! Hugs Todd! Hey BFF!

For me

Emotions - yes definitely they are a lot closer to the surface and I tend to share those much easier than I did before this crap. - Which is really all in all not a bad thing - sharing the emotions.

Forgetting to pick up things when sent to the store - as Infohound mentioned. Well sure, but thats been like forever, hence will not pin that on the treatments.

I do forget words at times, interesting more so when I'm writing, I've not noticed a forgetfulness when speaking. Is this from the treatments? Honestly not sure, I think its something I've run into for years now.

Driving - nope no impact at all.

Job Performance - Our boss has no complaints at all. She seems to be very happy with my performance. But than Gigi is almost 9 months old, she is very easy to please.

Focus and remain on task - Hmm yeah I do tend to drift - but now that I'm retired - well other than the few days a week we report to Gigi - its really easy to put things off.

Really for me the Hormone Treatments, and side effects, have been very easy to live with and accommodate. But than - I'm retired.

Hugs!

Bud

We will beat this crap
Posted 10/22/2012 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
I am certain that I am not sure but positive that I am confused about almost nothing except for what I am undecided about. I think...probably huh!!!
Posted 10/22/2012 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
Todd, have you been to any tea parties with hat makers lately. I loved your post.

Don

Posted 10/22/2012 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
Don.... I don't know..... have I?
Posted 10/22/2012 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
Todd remember...

"One pill makes you smaller, and one pill makes you tall. And the one's that mother gives don't do anything at all"...

Tony
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