HT drug questions.

Hello Able 

As far as I am aware you are correct and the 28 days of Bicalutamide are given at the start of your HT to stop any "Tumor Flare".

You, at the same time kick off on your HT treatment half way through the tablets and have been given a 1 month dose of Decapeptyl (3.75mg). You are then going to move onto either 3 or 6 monthly injections of HT - in your case 3 monthly injections (11.25mg).

If you have no issues with the Decapeptyl injections - ask your GP to keep you on these every 3 months rather than changing over to Prostrap.  the following link gives you more information.

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/treatments-and-drugs/triptorelin-for-prostate-cancer

As for the RT - this will happen between the 3rd and 6th month of HT - you will receive notification of this from the oncology department.

I hope this helps - It's also great news that "you now seem much happier".

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Brian and thanks once again for your prompt and informative reply.

Millibob said:

If you have no issues with the Decapeptyl injections - ask your GP to keep yo on these every 3 months rather than changing over to Prostrap.

I'm not aware of any side effects (so far anyway) so unless it was a cost choice by the Surgery, sticking with what you have already used makes sense.

OOI, it doesn't look like a cost thing ...

Hello Able  Nice of you to highlight my spelling mistake.  (I have corrected it now!!).

The only reason I have made that comment is that some people have had a reaction to their monthly/3 monthly/6 monthly injections and if you are happy with the one you are on stick with it.

As for side effects - the HT ones build up and then one day BOOM - you can cry for nothing or you wonder why you are having a hot sweat - or like me you grow a cracking pair of moobs!!

Best wishes - Brian

Millibob said:

Nice of you to highlight my spelling mistake.

I did? That would be a first as without a spell-checker my dyslexia would make my posts look like they were encrypted! (plus I wouldn't generally do that, this isn't an English language learning forum or unless we were 'friends' and we were talking of a product or where the name uses camel-case etc, like SpaceOAR or CyberKnife when I might do it silently).

Thanks for the reminder on the side effects. I guess 'enjoying' them at least means you are still alive. ;-)

Hi Able

back in 2021 I started my 4 weeks of Bicalutamide then the injections. My surgery changed whatever the injections were for the Prostap. My consultant was happy with that.

the first three jabs produced nothing.

Then in January 2022 I started to become tired. This increased throughout the year - bedtime was 9pm or earlier - very tired  A few other odd side effects.  I had the 8th and last jab in November 2022

This all max'd out at the end of January 2023.  I felt terrible - on deaths door.

At the end of February 2023 somebody flicked a switch and things started to calm down

In May 2023 my PSA remained at 0 and I was given the all clear. Very good news indeed.

Today I can work in my garage and garden without stopping every 1/2 hour to recover.

There is light at the end of the tunnel. If you have issues speak to your McMillan nurse - they are very good.

Good Luck

Roger

RogerH said:

My surgery changed whatever the injections were for the Prostap

I wonder why they do that, other than it might be like with me where it's the first one on the OR list?

RogerH said:

the first three jabs produced nothing.

Do you mean in the way of side effects Roger or test results?

RogerH said:

Today I can work in my garage and garden without stopping every 1/2 hour to recover.

Excellent news.

Yes, as you say the light at the end of the tunnel doesn't always have to be an oncoming train! ;-)

Hi Able,

I think GP Surgeries use whatever they can get easily.  Prostap is fairly universal.

The first three jabs produced NO side effects.  and then when I wasn't looking - kerpow

I was on Prostap for 8 x 3 months = 2 years. Sounds like a life time but time goes by and then you are at the end.

I have just had a call from my Charring X consultant  PSA < 0.01 Testosterone  back up to normal levels.

Roger

RogerH said:

I think GP Surgeries use whatever they can get easily.  Prostap is fairly universal.

Do I understand it correctly that with Prostap it's injected into the stomach? My first injection was in my buttock and that was pretty tolerable.

RogerH said:

I have just had a call from my Charring X consultant  PSA < 0.01

That sounds good?

RogerH said:

Testosterone  back up to normal levels

So that's good in that it means you feel 'normal' again but doesn't it also mean it can feed any cancer, should it return?

That said it sounds like another of these rock <> hard-place scenarios? ;-(

Hi Able

I had my jabs in my arm.  It never reacted. And the arm  is still there and working.

The Prostap removes the Testosterone, so in stopping the prostate the testosterone will recover.

That's the process and hopefully it will work.

Rocks and Hard places are easy.

Roger

Able said:

RogerH said:

I think GP Surgeries use whatever they can get easily.  Prostap is fairly universal.

Do I understand it correctly that with Prostap it's injected into the stomach? My first injection was in my buttock and that was pretty tolerable.

I had Prostap3 for three years and every injection was in the glutes. Alternate sides each time. The only irritation was that after each injection the PREVIOUS injection site would be sore for a couple of days.