Zoladex side-effects

Hi Marvin I've been on hormone injection 41/2 years now and without doubt the side effects change, unfortunately not always for the better. My early experience was quite bad sweats, these have virtually stopped to maybe 1 or 2 a day. Mood swings used to have me in tears, now I take myself to bed maybe once a week and all ok in an hour or two. Fatigue and loss of muscle power is another thing, that is gradually getting worse. But I'm 73 so age will have a bearing on that. 

Best of luck mate it should start to settle down into something you can handle.

I'm on zoladex as well. Have always thought there has to be an overlap when you have each implant were the old and the new have a combined effect.  This should only last a few days. If you have bad effects you could organise next implant at say 12weeks and a couple of days instead of spot on the 12 weeks. Or just be prepared when you have the implant. In my case I've started to get use to it and don't really notice but I'm also on Enzalutamide as part of the Stampede trial. Things for me may now start to change as I have just finished the trial drug after 2years and should only have another year on Zoladex. That's if the PSA levels are ok.

I've been on Prostate and Zoladex for five years, plus bicalutamide (Casodex) and have side effects. I also have peripheral neuropathy, which I think affects my feet and fingertips. I've started dropping things when I think I have a good hold on them, for instance. I also have a touch of arthritis in my thumb joint and a finger. The side effects of the hormone treatment include hot flushes (although not as bad as some men's), feeling emotional, although that seems to have died down a bit, and a fat belly! I mention the neuropathy as it sounds similar to some men's finger probs, except my fingers have not got fatter.

I've been on zoladex for a year and I have fopund an increase in symptoms, particularly joint aches.

I recently had my third Zoladex injection a short while ago and have noticed a few subtle changes in my side effects.

My hot flushes have become much more pronounced in the way they occur. More intense,and sweaty. Though the acupuncture is helping.

I've become much more emotional., and there are times when I become increasingly intolerant, and have been known to snap at my wife. There's instant remorse, and an apology.

I'm also finding it harder to observe what is happening to my poor wife who I'm having to drag through all this shit. If Ihad a broken leg, or flu, its more personal, and your on your way to being well again, and they'd support you. I was well, and in order to recover I have to become unwell, and to see what it's putting my wife through hurts more that anything.

Dear Flightsim,

We are similar in age, similar in Gleason score, similar in diagnosis, and similar in treatment schedule. I began my hormone therapy in January and began to experience intense emotions  and flushes at a similar stage in my treatment. I have now been on anti-depressants for over a month and these have helped enormously with my emotions. Maybe something to look into? Where our treatment schedules vary is that I am now in chemotherapy prior to beginning radiotherapy. There is a suspicion in my case that undetected rogue cells may have escaped from my prostate capsule and might establish secondary tumours elsewhere. The chemo therefore is to mop these up.

It IS very hard putting partners and family under strain and something that also concerns me very much. In my case that strain falls to my partner, and it is visible. I haven't even shared my situation with my closest family members as my mother is very elderly and wouldn't cope well and my two adopted children saw my wife and their adoptive Mum die from lung cancer in 2012, when they were only 12 and 13. 

Very best wishes Flightsim!

I look forward to us sharing our experiences in this forum.

Jonathan.

Hi Guys, I've been through the chemo' (docetaxel) and radio (37 fractions)  'luge'. I'd strongly suggest that you fast for the day of the chemo and the day after (big difference in side effects_). I also iced my hands, feet and head (no neuropathy at all Good luck. dave

Although it's a little off-topic I'd like to underline the value of fasting over the chemo period. I tried it for the first time for my second chemo session, and it appears to have been responsible for hugely diminishing the side effects, although admittedly, I do have only one other chemo session to compare it with. Following advice I fasted for a full day before chemo, the day of the chemo itself, and for half a day afterwards. I have also seen two days before chemo recommended, although from another source I've also heard that the mechanism that protects healthy cells from chemo (sirtuins produced in response to fasting initiate this) generally kicks in after only 24 hours. No idea personally. Don't know enough. But it really seems to have worked for me.

Very best wishes,

Jonathan. 

Hi Johnathan 1801,

I’m interested in the fasting thing. I’ve not heard of this before, and I’m considering doing it. I’m not looking forward to the side effects, especially as I’ve just recovered from radiotherapy. Which took longer than I expected.

I noticed another side effect which I hadn’t spotted before, despite being warned. My testicles are about the size they were when I was pre-pubescent. Bit of a shock when I noticed. My masculinity took a further knock. Something else I’ve found difficult to come to terms with.

Roll on tomorrow. My catheter is being removed. I’ll be glad to see the end of it. Another worry has been penile atrophy, so I want to know to what extent this may happened.

Chris

Hi Chris.

Another Chris, Chris Woollams, has written about fasting during cancer treatment on his website CancerActive. Simply Google the website and search for Fasting on it.

Very best wishes,

Jonathan.