How long after IGRT ends should I be on lupron

Need some guidance from others. I had surgery 3 years ago, had a 4+3 gleason and had psa around 4.5 just prior to surgery. In Dec, 2015, at 3 months shy of 3 years, my psa had risen to 0.11, increasing by 0.1 over a 14 month period. I opted to start radiation therapy (IGRT) and will start that next week. It was suggested to me to have ADT therapy for 2-3 months prior to radiation, and I will have had about 10 weeks of that prior. I am tolerating the lupron fairly well but want to get off it as soon as possible. RO believes remaining cancer cells are localized given slow psa progression and an undectable psa for 18 months after surgery even using the ultrasensitive psa test. see my signature for details

My radiation will end about 14 days after my latest 3 month Lupron shot, and I was advised to continue Lupron for at least 2 months post radiation. I could get 2 x 1 month shots of Lupron which will give me about 6 weeks post radiation, or get a 3 month shot which then puts me at around 10 weeks post radiation.

I will see how I do on the lupron over the next few months but wonder if I can stop after 2 month shots. The RO says lets' wait and see. I am taking a little calcium plus vitamin K2 and vit D to help calcium absorption -but am also on proton pump inhibitor for reflux, so am concerned about bone loss.

Thoughts from others?

Well, all we can say now with certainty is that 6 months is the minimum:

Combining ADT and salvage radiation therapy improves outcomes

Those treated with at least 12 months of ADT had better outcomes than shorter duration:

Duration of Androgen Deprivation Therapy Influences Outcomes for Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy Following Radical Prostatectomy

The results of 24 months of bicalutamide were significantly better than placebo, so it may be possible to get good results with that instead of Lupron.

Anti-androgen therapy enhances outcomes of salvage radiation

No clear answers yet until we get the results of the RADICALS and RTOG 0534 clinical trials, probably in a couple of years.

(fixed link)

Post Edited (Tall Allen) : 4/2/2016 11:39:43 AM (GMT-6)

I was given a 3-month shot at the end of IGRT--bringing the total to nine months-- and I wasn't too happy about it because originally my doctor said 6 months. but it was probably for the best and I am in remission.

good luck.

ed

I would have to defer to the oncologists. At this point my lupron is permanent, but I wish it wasn't.