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User
Posted 10 Sep 2019 at 18:15

Sorry to jump in here but my diagnosis was 3 + 4 T3B. My PSA had been 33. I had a bone scan before I was offered radiotherapy or surgery. I opted for surgery and on meeting the surgeon was put on hormone therapy (Triptorelin) for 3 months and then underwent radical prostatectomy. One year post op my PSA is <0.1 ng/ml.   

User
Posted 12 Sep 2019 at 18:16

Now reached my treatment. Informed I have advanced localised prostrate cancer. The cancer has spread outside my prostate to my seminal vesticles. Now on hormone treatment ( bicalutamide) with radiation therapy in a few months. Going to start taking tablets when I come off holiday. Anyone taking this medication at the moment and what side effects are you getting  ?

Edited by member 12 Sep 2019 at 18:18  | Reason: Additional information

User
Posted 12 Sep 2019 at 19:14

All the hormone therapies have broadly similar side effects, things like reduction in libido, loss of body hair acquired at puberty (although in case of beard, I think most people just get a slowing of growth unless you're on HT lifelong). You need to make sure you continue having erections, or you may find they don't work again after an extended period of not having any - this can be harder than you think if your libido goes very low. There are many side effects which are significantly reduced by exercise - exercise is really important when you're on HT. Many of the local support groups run weekly exercise classes for members, often free or cheap, but you need to fill in between these with exercise of your own. You might check with your GP if you can take calcium and Vitamin D supplements to try and maintain bone strength (although this only works with exercise too). There are also hot flushes which about 80% of men on HT get, but to varying degrees.

Is the bicalutamide 50mg for 3-4 weeks before starting injections, or is it 150mg for a longer time (typically 18-36 months)?

In the case of using bicalutamide for a longer time, it is more prone to generate man-boobs than the other treatments, but they can all do it. There are ways to avoid this, e.g. taking tamoxifen or getting a once-off radiotherapy blast to the breasts. If the bicalutamide is only for 3-4 weeks, it won't cause this side effect.

Put like this, it probably sounds rather uncomfortable, but no one gets all the side effects, and some people get none at all. We all handle it though.

User
Posted 12 Sep 2019 at 19:27

 

50mg for 28 days then injections. Told this could be upto three years depending on how I respond to treatment. Radiotherapy after 3/4 months. Thanks for your input. 

User
Posted 18 Sep 2019 at 09:47
Start bicalutamide next week. Anyone on their first week with this drug and what are your first side effects ?
 
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