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User
Posted 01 Aug 2014 at 10:57

Just tried to update my profile but that doesn't seem to have worked.

Short history of my PCa - Diagnosed Oct 2010 PSA 8.9 (age 58) , radical prostatectomy Nov 2010 - post Op PSA 0.26, RT March - April 2011 (no Hormone treatment), no treatment, no medication and generally fit, PSA drops to 0.15 July2011, but has increased since then to todays PSA 3.9.

Anyway I've just returned from seeing my Onco, PSA increased to 3.9. Bone scan and CT scan shows no metastases which is great, although CT scan showed "multiple cysts within the liver" but no cancer. Onco has given me a prescription for Prostap (3 monthly injection) and has said the Specialist nurse will give me the first jab then on to the GP for future injections.

I've read various threads on this site about the lousy side effects some of you are having with Prostap and I'm obviously worried

SO should I have asked about other HT ? is Prostap the cheapest and that's why the onco decided to try that first? would Zoladex or Decapeptyl be more effective?

I appreciate everyone is different and any HT comes with some side effects, but I would welcome any thoughts / knowledge from any of you.

Cheers for now Ecky

User
Posted 01 Aug 2014 at 20:46

Hi Ecky,

 

I assume you have been given a couple of weeks of tablets before the injection for anti-flare ?

 

The LHRH meds are much the same in what they do. So side effects likely to be fairly similar. Prostap easier to administer as it's an injection rather than the capsule implant of Zoladex. Some men get minor reaction at Prostap injection site.

A few say they prefer Zoladex and I wonder if the slower release method of the capsule might be the reason. But many men have no problems with Prostap.

 

You just have top see how you react. First six months or so are probably the worst as the body adjusts.

User
Posted 01 Aug 2014 at 22:41
I've been on Prostap for just over a year. No problems with injections. Side effects: impotence and minor hot flushes. While these are, to say the least, undesirable they are better than the alternative.

I believe that Prostap is a little cheaper than Zoladex, both being around £180 - £190 per dose. Prostap seems to be the preferred product in my area, perhaps because it's easier to administer.

Good luck!

User
Posted 01 Aug 2014 at 22:51
Was told today that Prostap is the latest, newest HT and easier to administer than the alternative.

All the best.

Alison

User
Posted 03 Aug 2014 at 00:26

Hi folks,

I have been on Zoladex three monthly implant since February and all I have suffered are minor very manageable hot flushes.

I have had two of these implants/injections and they were very easy to administer, also due to freeze spray being used on area before being administered by nurse absolutely painless.

I spoke to my Onclogist recently and told him about the minor flushes, and asked him if he thought I might get more side effects as time went on. He told me no if anything the side effects will diminish, the first six months usually producing the worst of any side effects. So I am very happy on Zoladex HT which has also brought my PSA down from 59 to 1.4 in 5 months which my Oncologist is very happy with. I start RT on 04/08/14.

Good luck to ALL who are fighting cancer.

Regards,

Gerry.

Edited by member 03 Aug 2014 at 21:43  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 03 Aug 2014 at 15:25
Hi Ecky, Dad has been on Prostap since he was diagnosed just over 2 years ago and will continue for another 2. He has had very few side effects (not sure about the impotence thing, we're close but I do draw the line) he has a hot flush now and then and has put a small amount of weight on around his tummy and lost some body hair. He joined the gym and bought a push bike after diagnosis so I think this has helped keep his weight down. It hasn't effected him in terms of tiredness and he isn't any more achy than he was before.

Best wishes

Sarah

User
Posted 07 Aug 2014 at 09:41
The 3 monthly jab just releases a little into your body every day. It is not like taking a large dose at once.

Believe it or not, the 3 month jab seems to come round really quickly, and as an Onco said to us once "3 months is enough time to try and forget about it all but not too long that you are worrying about it".

You may want to opt for a PSA test every 3 months too at the same time to cut down appointments as after a shock like this, it makes going to appointments more nerve wracking - I have found!

Good luck with it.

Alison

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User
Posted 01 Aug 2014 at 20:46

Hi Ecky,

 

I assume you have been given a couple of weeks of tablets before the injection for anti-flare ?

 

The LHRH meds are much the same in what they do. So side effects likely to be fairly similar. Prostap easier to administer as it's an injection rather than the capsule implant of Zoladex. Some men get minor reaction at Prostap injection site.

A few say they prefer Zoladex and I wonder if the slower release method of the capsule might be the reason. But many men have no problems with Prostap.

 

You just have top see how you react. First six months or so are probably the worst as the body adjusts.

User
Posted 01 Aug 2014 at 22:41
I've been on Prostap for just over a year. No problems with injections. Side effects: impotence and minor hot flushes. While these are, to say the least, undesirable they are better than the alternative.

I believe that Prostap is a little cheaper than Zoladex, both being around £180 - £190 per dose. Prostap seems to be the preferred product in my area, perhaps because it's easier to administer.

Good luck!

User
Posted 01 Aug 2014 at 22:51
Was told today that Prostap is the latest, newest HT and easier to administer than the alternative.

All the best.

Alison

User
Posted 03 Aug 2014 at 00:26

Hi folks,

I have been on Zoladex three monthly implant since February and all I have suffered are minor very manageable hot flushes.

I have had two of these implants/injections and they were very easy to administer, also due to freeze spray being used on area before being administered by nurse absolutely painless.

I spoke to my Onclogist recently and told him about the minor flushes, and asked him if he thought I might get more side effects as time went on. He told me no if anything the side effects will diminish, the first six months usually producing the worst of any side effects. So I am very happy on Zoladex HT which has also brought my PSA down from 59 to 1.4 in 5 months which my Oncologist is very happy with. I start RT on 04/08/14.

Good luck to ALL who are fighting cancer.

Regards,

Gerry.

Edited by member 03 Aug 2014 at 21:43  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 03 Aug 2014 at 15:25
Hi Ecky, Dad has been on Prostap since he was diagnosed just over 2 years ago and will continue for another 2. He has had very few side effects (not sure about the impotence thing, we're close but I do draw the line) he has a hot flush now and then and has put a small amount of weight on around his tummy and lost some body hair. He joined the gym and bought a push bike after diagnosis so I think this has helped keep his weight down. It hasn't effected him in terms of tiredness and he isn't any more achy than he was before.

Best wishes

Sarah

User
Posted 07 Aug 2014 at 08:32

Thanks for those who replied. I have an appointment at the hospital Urol dept next Friday for the nurse to give me he first jab, I asked about "anti-flare" tablets and was told my Onco didn't think I needed them having a fairly low PSA and recent MRI/Bone scans being clear. I was planned to have a monthly jab for 3 weeks then go onto the3 monthly jab, but because of being away for the monthly jabs they've now said first jab then 1 month later the 3monthly jab. I don't understand the "slow release" mechanism from the injections, to me it seems like deciding to take 20 aspins in one dose rather than 20 days of one asprin. Any advice?

User
Posted 07 Aug 2014 at 09:41
The 3 monthly jab just releases a little into your body every day. It is not like taking a large dose at once.

Believe it or not, the 3 month jab seems to come round really quickly, and as an Onco said to us once "3 months is enough time to try and forget about it all but not too long that you are worrying about it".

You may want to opt for a PSA test every 3 months too at the same time to cut down appointments as after a shock like this, it makes going to appointments more nerve wracking - I have found!

Good luck with it.

Alison

 
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