Intermittent Hormone Therapy

I am 62 and was diagnosed in 1992 ( gleason score of 6); received a radical which brought my PSA down for seven years before my PSA started to rise again ( 0.4). A series of external beam radiation treatments brought the PSA back down to less 0.1, whch held until fall 2002, at which time I started Hormone therapy ( initially zoledex ) which brought my PSA back down to less that 0.1. In January of 2003 I started Lupron Depot; and, have had readings of less that 0.04. Now, after five years of hormone therapy ( Lupron Depot ) I have opted to go on intermittent hormone therapy ( IHT ). My PSA has been regularly less than 0.04. Yes, I have been blessed. The game plan is to monitor the PSA more regularly along with monitoring Testosterone levels. My Doc and many others of knowledge, seem to believe that often with hormone therapy as successful as mine has been, that the body can be kind of be reprogrammed to not produce the higher levels of testosterone ( which fuel PC growth ). I have learned in some of my research that often a patient can go for quite some time, maintaining a low PSA and low level of testosterone. Further, I have been told that often the IHT actually helps prolong the efficacy of Hormone therapy. (Thoughts?) 'Kind of curious as to who out there might have some light to shed on this scenario. ' Further, I would be interested in hearing from anyone on IHT; and, how they faired with regard to some of the side effects ( flashes, loss of muscle mass, etc.). just another club member, northstar

Indeed, you have been fortunate.  I have been on Lupron for slightly over a year, following two cryoablation procedures.  Post op PSA was 40 and moving up.  With Lupron I have been at 0.2, recently rising to 0.3, but the Dr. states that this rise is within the accurcy of the test procedure.  I have had some problems with the Lupron side efects, particularly fatigue, hot flashes and a decided muscle mass loss.  After reading Dr. Snuffy Myers book, I decided to sek out intermittent therpy, and am now two months past the scheduled Lupron shot.  My plan is to go three months, have a psa done, and if results are rising, go back on Lupron, with casodex and Proscar, as suggested in Myers' book.  If itstays at this level, I aim to stay Lupron free with regularly scheduled (3 months) psa tests.

This is my own program, and I want to try it to remove the effects of the Lupron side effects, and also to prolong the efficacy of the Lupron, and to keep the cancer from becoming refractive.  As for the muscle mass, I recently rejoined the gym, and am now working out strenously three times a week,cardio and weight training.  Hurts like hell for the first few weeks, but it seems to be working. I am 73 yrs old, and in otherwise good health.  Since I am now retired, my new full time job is derfeating this cancer.

 

Good luck in your efforts.

Hey BillyDee, Thanks for the good words; and, back attcha!! All we can do is pray that science stays ahead of our illnesses;) Be Well!! northstar

Northstar,

   What did your PSA rise too after the irradiation before they started the ADT.  To verify failure you have to have documented rise in 3 consecutive measure ments every 3 to4 months.  It is not uncommone to get a PSA bounce after the completion of irradiation, which rises to a certain level and stablizes or goe back down.  Fact is , you may be cured if it never rose as mentioned.

Sometimes ,after irradiation, people jump on the "bounce" and are started on the shots before properly being monitered to make sure it is a recurrence.

Northstar:

Yes, after 4-5 years of successful testosterone suppression it will likely take quite a while for your body to return to a normal level of T. Perhaps never. This "natural" suppression of T will have a marked effect on psa, just as it did when you had the drug effects directly. This continued suppression will also continue the side effects of low T such as osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome, hot flashes and others. Because of the success of your therapy, the long duration and your age it is likely you will have an extended time off of drug treatment. At least according to the numbers. Congratulations on your long term success and may it continue.