Hi guys, I'm replying because I have similar pathologies, treatment timeline and PSA's as you "three amigos" and I already know Gary. I have been on Lupron for all of 2017 and get my third and hopefully final six month shot next month. Also I just finished my eight weeks of RT a couple months ago, so can speak to most of the SE's.
My HT experience was pretty much like Artist Mark has outlined... initial Lupron flare (no Casodex) followed by frequent hot flashes and LOTS of brain fog. As my wife also has "chemo brain" we often joke about
our feeble mindedness. Plus I had terrible moodiness, especially around the time of her lymphoma diagnosis. Venlafaxine and Gabapentin have helped tremendously and now I can say that everything has stabilized and I feel fairly comfortable with the new normal.
Additionally I just came off RT in October. I had terrible bowel disruption throughout and still have occasional bouts of diarrhea or proctitis. A few guys here on HW say that happens sometimes, but for me it was a pretty serious issue. And I had read about
the fatigue setting in, and right on schedule around the sixth week I found myself feeling weak and drowsy much of the time. But the goal was to get the RT over with and get past the residual fatigue before the start of November.
RT was the golden fleece around which everything over the past year was based. We had planned for
years to have our entire family join us here in Florida for a big family Thanksgiving. Everything... EVERYTHING was on a spreadsheet, and frequent complications such as my own persistent incontinence and my wife's lymphoma required constant juggling of the schedule. But eventually everything worked out and we had a wonderful time, including three days with the grandchildren at Universal Studios.
Now I find myself in the same situation as Rick, where the RT and HT need six months to work their magic before natural PSA measures will indicate whether or not the beast has been defeated...
Italatin8 said...
Now I am hoping the SRT was successful, which I understand may take a year or so of PSA tests every few months until we know. Rick
It does feel
strange after such a frantic year to not be doing
something... no radiation, no chemo, no further surgeries planned. Just wait and get the occasional blood test, then hope by this time next year the trend is downward or at least flat.
JkorourkeRN for husband said...
Hi guys, we ll join "the club" started the Lupron 2 wks ago met with RO a month ago heres a Q He said he has no plans of starting RT until continence gets better and I m anxious to get going on it with this high grade PC it seems alot of guys are already starting RT regardless of continence Thanks
JK - your husband's continence is indeed very important. As described above, my entire past year was all about
getting RT underway. Initially it was scheduled for last March 1st, but the RT
requires a full bladder, and once RT begins cannot be interrupted and it typically halts the healing process and any further improvement in continence.
Yes, I too was quite "anxious" to get the RT underway. Follow what your RO recommends. He has been thru this a LOT more than you have. A lot of us here have high grade PC and none of us has had an easy go of it. Breathe! You can't make a baby in one month, even with nine women.