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Bicalutamide (50mg) then Zoladex

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User
Posted 25 Jul 2022 at 10:55

Hi, scan showed cancer probably spread to 6 pelvic lymph nodes (15mm, 12, 11, 10, 9, 9) but they don't know if come back to left side of prostate as radiologist no experience in post-HIFU appearances!

Just moved house, new life and was feeling fine before this bombshell. Being offerred biclutamide 50mg for 14 days then Zoladex injection. The side effects of HT/ADT sound absolutely horrendous and as I live alone and single (but looking for a girlfriend - but guess I'd have to forget that if I take these noxious testosterone blockers!).

Not sure I should even bother - but guess I'll have to have the treatment - is it worth it? I drink a lot of beer almost every day and don't eat well - how do these heavy drugs mix with alcohol?

Many thanks for any info or thoughts.

User
Posted 29 Jul 2022 at 14:42
As said above I followed and remain friends with a few people who took Decapeptyl ad their choice. Due to their minimal side effects I chose that also and have been very lucky so far. Been on it 18 months and managed an erection just this morning 😉.

I think it depends on the individual and their prior libido as it does take a hit. I’m not sure whether you are on a curable or incurable path , but either way it makes sense to add the HT to the Bicalutamide for now. Good luck

User
Posted 25 Jul 2022 at 10:55

Hi, scan showed cancer probably spread to 6 pelvic lymph nodes (15mm, 12, 11, 10, 9, 9) but they don't know if come back to left side of prostate as radiologist no experience in post-HIFU appearances!

Just moved house, new life and was feeling fine before this bombshell. Being offerred biclutamide 50mg for 14 days then Zoladex injection. The side effects of HT/ADT sound absolutely horrendous and as I live alone and single (but looking for a girlfriend - but guess I'd have to forget that if I take these noxious testosterone blockers!).

Not sure I should even bother - but guess I'll have to have the treatment - is it worth it? I drink a lot of beer almost every day and don't eat well - how do these heavy drugs mix with alcohol?

Many thanks for any info or thoughts.

User
Posted 25 Jul 2022 at 11:40
Hey Howard I’m 55 and am now incurable so HT for the rest of my life. I was gutted as my surgery was 7 years ago and I’d regained excellent sexual function only to be told I had lots of mets and so was incurable. I specifically asked for Decapeptyl HT as I’d followed a few people who reported lesser side effects. I’ve been on it 18 months and mate it’s not all bad. Hot flushes are regular and a pain but not awful. Personally I’ve put zero weight on and no moobs. Fatigue is quite bad but again bearable. I was always a sexual person and yes your libido drops a lot , but tbh I still have more drive than my wife. Can still get erection using Cialis. Biggest problem is not being able to reach orgasm with my partner but I can on my own.

PS I’m a very big drinker also and the cancer doesn’t help.

I think you’ll be ok. Life can still be good as I’m living proof

Chris

User
Posted 25 Jul 2022 at 11:50

Hi Howard,

Sorry it looks like it is back. Is the plan ADT for life or are they thinking of zapping pelvis with RT? I have to say with 6 nodes involved it seems this is in your lymph system and could have spread further.

I think the ADT and the beer will have no interaction. Side effects of ADT are not dreadful. I was on it for two years. You will probably lose all interest in women from a sexual point of view, but they are still delightful.

I was just about to mention Chris J's inspiring story, and see he has posted. The best thing about Chris' story is that he put off ADT for about five years. So you don't just have to do what the doctors say when they say it, but if you do go down that route you have to accept responsibility for your actions.

If you ignore all treatment you probably will die in about five to ten years and it will not be a pleasant life, if you make decisions about your treatment you might not live much beyond ten years but it will be reasonably pleasant, for most of the time.

Dave

User
Posted 25 Jul 2022 at 17:24
I was on 150mg Bicalutamide alone for 11 months at one stage of this journey and never had an issue getting it up. Didn’t lose my libido at all either. Just bad fatigue for first 3 weeks. And remember there are so many different ways to skin a cat yeh. An erection isn’t necessarily needed for great sex. Good fine motor skills and oral are a sure winner.
User
Posted 25 Jul 2022 at 18:50

Thanks Chris. Your last sentence was erudite to say the least! ... and made me grin Big time! 😬

I appreciate the time you have taken out of your day to reply. Cheered me up. Ta.💯

 

Edited by member 25 Jul 2022 at 18:54  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 25 Jul 2022 at 20:18
"Are female only cancers treated by turning off the female hormones? .... or is it just testosterone that is the bad guy here? .... toxic masculinity literally!"

Yes of course - all hormonal cancers are treated by switching off the relevant hormone ... breast cancer, uterine cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer. Like prostate cancer, other hormonal cancers can sometimes be treated with surgery and/or radiotherapy but if aggressive or advanced, HT is also needed. The hormones may include Zoladex and Lupron and common practice with breast cancer can be to stay on the HT for 5 to 10 years.

For some hormonal cancers, the production unit is surgjcally removed - testicles, ovaries, etc.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 29 Jul 2022 at 11:32

Decapeptyl is tolerable but ED  is more or less guaranteed whilst on it  found this to be the case almost straight away ☹️

User
Posted 29 Jul 2022 at 11:56

I was on zoladex two years.  I had side effects of HT. I didn't have any problems from the injections, once every three months is better than monthly.

Dave

User
Posted 29 Jul 2022 at 14:53
Breast growth and breathlessness are both more likely with bicalutamide than with injectable HT.

Decapeptyl seems to be slightly better tolerated that Prostap or Zoladex but this is based only on posts here.

When deciding which injectable to go for, worth considering some wider issues like how reliable and accommodating your FP practice is and whether you are likely to be going away. Decapeptyl and Prostap are given every month / 3 months and can cope with 3 or 4 days flex each way. Zoladex must be given every 28 or 84 days. We had a member here not that long ago who had problems because his GP practice would not put appointments in the diary until a couple of weeks before and then sometimes couldn't fit him in so injections were late. Not good when the treatment plan relies on specific timing.

Also, try to have the 1 month dose the first time in case of bad reaction, then move to 3 monthly if the first month is okay. Decapeptyl also comes in a 6 month depot.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 29 Jul 2022 at 14:59
Yes Lyn I’m gonna move to the 6 month Decapeptyl as trying to get anything done at my local practice takes a Herculean effort these days. What’s happening to the world ???
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User
Posted 25 Jul 2022 at 11:40
Hey Howard I’m 55 and am now incurable so HT for the rest of my life. I was gutted as my surgery was 7 years ago and I’d regained excellent sexual function only to be told I had lots of mets and so was incurable. I specifically asked for Decapeptyl HT as I’d followed a few people who reported lesser side effects. I’ve been on it 18 months and mate it’s not all bad. Hot flushes are regular and a pain but not awful. Personally I’ve put zero weight on and no moobs. Fatigue is quite bad but again bearable. I was always a sexual person and yes your libido drops a lot , but tbh I still have more drive than my wife. Can still get erection using Cialis. Biggest problem is not being able to reach orgasm with my partner but I can on my own.

PS I’m a very big drinker also and the cancer doesn’t help.

I think you’ll be ok. Life can still be good as I’m living proof

Chris

User
Posted 25 Jul 2022 at 11:50

Hi Howard,

Sorry it looks like it is back. Is the plan ADT for life or are they thinking of zapping pelvis with RT? I have to say with 6 nodes involved it seems this is in your lymph system and could have spread further.

I think the ADT and the beer will have no interaction. Side effects of ADT are not dreadful. I was on it for two years. You will probably lose all interest in women from a sexual point of view, but they are still delightful.

I was just about to mention Chris J's inspiring story, and see he has posted. The best thing about Chris' story is that he put off ADT for about five years. So you don't just have to do what the doctors say when they say it, but if you do go down that route you have to accept responsibility for your actions.

If you ignore all treatment you probably will die in about five to ten years and it will not be a pleasant life, if you make decisions about your treatment you might not live much beyond ten years but it will be reasonably pleasant, for most of the time.

Dave

User
Posted 25 Jul 2022 at 16:29

Many thanks for your replies - good advice and re-assuring to know that others have the same questions and have found some sort of solutions.

On the subject of questions - here's a rather interesting one I think - if we are to seriously compare male-only and female-only cancers:

Are female only cancers treated by turning off the female hormones? .... or is it just testosterone that is the bad guy here? .... toxic masculinity literally!

I do not want my testosterone turned off for my *whole* body! - but I do want targetted treatment of the apparent cancer in 6 tiny lymph nodes (about 0.0001% of my body) .... are there any treatments available? (they won't give me EBRT or HIFU) - seems to me the answer is: "NO - there are NO treatments available - even in mid- 2022!"

 

 

User
Posted 25 Jul 2022 at 17:10
Also, can anyone tell me if the bicalutamide/casodex kicks in on Day one of the nasty pills ..... or could I still ahve sexual intercourse with a woman say after taking two weeks of the pills? Thanks if you can help me on this timing issue please? .. I'm single - ad yes of course if I can find a woman willing to make love to me before I get *Dead Dick* syndrome maybe forever - I would tell her the situation - that would be only morally correct.

PS. It's not the greatest chat up line when you're trying to pull though is it - but I'll have to tell them of course. Unless I resort to paying for it - which will be a sad first for me.

User
Posted 25 Jul 2022 at 17:24
I was on 150mg Bicalutamide alone for 11 months at one stage of this journey and never had an issue getting it up. Didn’t lose my libido at all either. Just bad fatigue for first 3 weeks. And remember there are so many different ways to skin a cat yeh. An erection isn’t necessarily needed for great sex. Good fine motor skills and oral are a sure winner.
User
Posted 25 Jul 2022 at 18:50

Thanks Chris. Your last sentence was erudite to say the least! ... and made me grin Big time! 😬

I appreciate the time you have taken out of your day to reply. Cheered me up. Ta.💯

 

Edited by member 25 Jul 2022 at 18:54  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 25 Jul 2022 at 20:18
"Are female only cancers treated by turning off the female hormones? .... or is it just testosterone that is the bad guy here? .... toxic masculinity literally!"

Yes of course - all hormonal cancers are treated by switching off the relevant hormone ... breast cancer, uterine cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer. Like prostate cancer, other hormonal cancers can sometimes be treated with surgery and/or radiotherapy but if aggressive or advanced, HT is also needed. The hormones may include Zoladex and Lupron and common practice with breast cancer can be to stay on the HT for 5 to 10 years.

For some hormonal cancers, the production unit is surgjcally removed - testicles, ovaries, etc.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 25 Jul 2022 at 20:20
Thank you Lyn. I didn't know - gap in my limited knowledge filled. Ta

User
Posted 29 Jul 2022 at 10:41

Thanks again for your input. I have started taking the Bicalutamide 50mg - 2nd pill taken today ... so now have to decide whether to have the injection on day 14 as offerred - if so which one has least side-effects, particularly to sexual function please? 

I have been offerred a choice of Zoladex, Lupron (is this the same as Prostap?) or Decapeptyl? ... from what I'm hearing maybe the latter (Decapeptyl) is the one to choose? Perhaps I could have 177 Lu-PSMA - 617 at a later stage? 

Mnay thanks if you can help me choose. Alternatively I could just ask to stay on the bicalutamide only for a few months? - but isn't that slightly more risky as I have the PCa in 6 lymph nodes now. 

User
Posted 29 Jul 2022 at 11:32

Decapeptyl is tolerable but ED  is more or less guaranteed whilst on it  found this to be the case almost straight away ☹️

User
Posted 29 Jul 2022 at 11:56

I was on zoladex two years.  I had side effects of HT. I didn't have any problems from the injections, once every three months is better than monthly.

Dave

User
Posted 29 Jul 2022 at 14:42
As said above I followed and remain friends with a few people who took Decapeptyl ad their choice. Due to their minimal side effects I chose that also and have been very lucky so far. Been on it 18 months and managed an erection just this morning 😉.

I think it depends on the individual and their prior libido as it does take a hit. I’m not sure whether you are on a curable or incurable path , but either way it makes sense to add the HT to the Bicalutamide for now. Good luck

User
Posted 29 Jul 2022 at 14:53
Breast growth and breathlessness are both more likely with bicalutamide than with injectable HT.

Decapeptyl seems to be slightly better tolerated that Prostap or Zoladex but this is based only on posts here.

When deciding which injectable to go for, worth considering some wider issues like how reliable and accommodating your FP practice is and whether you are likely to be going away. Decapeptyl and Prostap are given every month / 3 months and can cope with 3 or 4 days flex each way. Zoladex must be given every 28 or 84 days. We had a member here not that long ago who had problems because his GP practice would not put appointments in the diary until a couple of weeks before and then sometimes couldn't fit him in so injections were late. Not good when the treatment plan relies on specific timing.

Also, try to have the 1 month dose the first time in case of bad reaction, then move to 3 monthly if the first month is okay. Decapeptyl also comes in a 6 month depot.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 29 Jul 2022 at 14:59
Yes Lyn I’m gonna move to the 6 month Decapeptyl as trying to get anything done at my local practice takes a Herculean effort these days. What’s happening to the world ???
 
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