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Side effects and experience of Bicalutamide

kinverman
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Hello from a new member to the forum.

I am 75 years old, and have been living with my prostate cancer diagnosis for the last two and a half years. I have ben on active surveillance, had two biopsies and sufferef a major and prolonged infection after the first of those.

I told my consultant that I valued the quality of my life far more than its duration - our children are long gone with families so I don't feel that I want to spend my remaining years as a sick old man! I am fit and active - up to a point, as I have  currently lost my running mojo. However, I felt lucky four months ago to be offered the operation to remove my prostate.. The latest evidence is that my cancer is still contained within the prostate, but I have just been told, as an NHS patient, that no operation is likely for many more months. Now that my PSA has breached 16, the surgeon consultant wants me to start taking 150mg daily tablets of BICALUTAMIDE.

I am reluctant to do this given the usual list of undesirable side effects which may or may not happen. Does anyone out there have any experience of taking this drug which they could share?

Since the waiting list I am on is like the proverbial piece of string, I have no idea how long I will have to take this drug. I chose surgery to avoid HT/radiotherapy so don't now see the point of just hanging on with a good life since the ultimate risk is having to take HT anyway as a result of the cancer spreading.

Any feedback much appreciated.

Thanks

  • Im 87 with PSA 255 twice in past year have been prescribed BICALUTAMIDE 2nd time prior to PROSTRAP apart from

    slight boob swelling no problem.

  • Hi

    I took Bicalutamide for a while before starting HT - to stop tumour flare. Don't recall any side effects or problems. 

    Stuart

    Trying to get fit again!

  • Good morning Hanelay,

    Many thanks for taking the trouble to drop me a line. It is much appreciated.

    Kinverman.

  • in reply to Scampidoodle

    Good morning Scampidoodle,

    Many thanks for taking the trouble to drop me a line. It is much appreciated.

    Kinverman

  • Good Afternoon Kinverman

    I had a course of 28 days of Bicalutamide at the same time as I started my hormone treatment in January. There were no side effects or problems with the dose. I am now 9 months on though now starting the hot flushes but that's down to the Decapeptyl kicking in good style!

    Best wishes with which ever course you take.

    Kind Regards - Brian.

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  • Hi kinverman,  I too am75 years of age - 74 when diagnosed.  I was, following diagnosis, placed on bicalutamide until my biopsy showed Gleason 3 + 4 = 7 when I was placed on a wait list for radiotherapy and moved onto Leuprorelin (Prostap) quarterly injections.  I stopped taking bicalutamide about 2 weeks after moving on to the hormone injections.

    In the months that I was taking bicalutamide I, fortunately, noticed no side effects - if there were any, they were mild.  I then went on to radiotherapy (20 sessions) a few months later and, touch wood, am now in remission with a PSA level o 0.06.

    I have to stay on Prostap injections with monitoring for an initial 3 year period and certainly notice side effects now (flushes, boobs and weight gain in particular). They are annoying, but I am still active, and attend exercise classes following open heart valve replacement and bypass surgery.

    I am still more than capable of activity and worldwide travel (yes, I have managed to obtain travel insurance), I agree with you that quality of life is the most important factor, and the quality of my life is now greatly enhanced!  Stick with it!

  • in reply to Millibob

    Thanks Brian.

    I am finding it very reassuring to hear from others on this experience, and appreciate your feedback.

    All the best

    Kinverman

  • in reply to PeteB

    Hello PeteB

    So good of you to let me know of your experience.

    Glad to learn that you are doing well now. Wow, you have had some problems to deal with.

    Thanks for your good wishes, which I reciprocate.

    Kinverman

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