Firmagon or Casodex+Lupron

Travling_guy

Regular Member

Joined : Nov 2014

Posts : 38

Posted 11/24/2014 8:09 PM (GMT 0)

Last PSA 125. Gleason 9 with bone mets in pelvis, spine and lung. I have to pick which HT to start with - Firmagon or Casodex+Lupron - any advice as to which one is most effective with least side effects?

BOOGEE

Veteran Member

Joined : Jan 2012

Posts : 743

Posted 11/24/2014 8:41 PM (GMT 0)

Travlingguy,

It's strange as I just posted a similar topic. I can share our experience with these drugs.
This is only our experience:

My husband had been on Lupron for 1 year. After
a HT vacation his PSA started to rise so our Oncol. deceided to put him on Degeralix. It worked for 6 monthes then his PSA started rising. He had his last injection in Sept.and his PSA was no longer undetectable at that time so he will most likely need treatment soon.
He did have most of the SE while taking Lupron but didn't have hardly any SE while on Degarelix. I questioned how well it was working because of that.
He was on 3 month injections of Lupron and monthly injections of Degarelix.

I hope this helps.

BOOGEE
We are wondering

PeterDisAbelard.

Forum Moderator

Joined : Jul 2012

Posts : 6432

Posted 11/24/2014 9:19 PM (GMT 0)

I've done Lupron, Degarelix (Firmagon) and Trelstar. The Degarelix/Firmagon doesn't cause T flare so you can usually start it sooner -- for the other two most doctors like you to be on Casodex for a couple of weeks first to mute the effect of the flare. I didn't personally see much difference between the Lupron and the Trelstar. I switched from Lupron to Trelstar because my insurance didn't want to pay for the Lupron.

The main difference with the Degarelix/Firmagon is that it is a once-a-month shot and is given to injection site discomfort, especially the first couple of doses.

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