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