Hormone hell

Hi Acme70 welcome to the forum. We had a similar post recently and I know they have had replies. By me replying to your post it pops it into the thread and one of the lovely folks there will be along soon to offer support, advice and information for you. Best wishes for now.

Hello Acme70 

Welcome to my world!!  I know just where you are with that, I have or will have on 6 December 2024 completed my 3 years of hell (sorry) Hormone Therapy. I have had every side effect and some that are not even listed!!

* For the hot sweats, sage tablets did it for me - they took a couple of weeks to kick in but the serious sweats went and haven't come back - that's 2 years no sweats. (they don't work for everyone!!).

* Fatigue - every time I have felt knackered I have taken the dog for an extra walk. I have had to force myself sometimes and I have still put on weight.

* I have had the mood swings - but I have recognised it's the HT and once I have told Mrs M she has fully supported me and I have got through them.

It's been hard, twice I have felt like giving up - BUT I keep saying those 2 magic words "Curative Pathway". I know I am fortunate to be able to say those words, others can't but it's kept me going.

3 years - it's been hard, my wife and family and this Community have supported me - I came on here when I was down and everyone got me back up and running.

Would I do it again for a "Curative Pathway" - yes I bloody well would.

From looking at your old posts you must be almost halfway through your 2 years - go on you can do it!!

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Acme70 , sounds like you are having a rough time.  We are all different in how we respond to HT, some breeze through and others really suffer.  I am not medically trained but usually suggest to people to do more exercise, but there is a balance and maybe you are overdoing things?  Do you ever give yourself a day off just to chill out and if so, do you feel rubbish the following day.  As I said, we all react differently but listening to your body is important.  I have been on HT for 7 years and keep getting caught out but have until recently found a good balance.  It may be possible to switch to a different HT so perhaps talk through with your team.  Best wishes, David

Hi Brian, 

Congrats on seeing the finishing line in sight after 3years. I will definetley try the sage tablet and fingers cross they will help. Thank you for the support you have given to me today and many other a true champion. Keep up the good work 

Hi David, 

WOW 7years on HT and there i am only 10 months falling apart. My job is quite phsical as well as trying to gather energy to make it to the gym. So perhaps I need rmore rest in my life. Thanks for the support. 

I'm now on my second hormone injection  after my GP messed up the dates for it and have two more to go, one every 6 months. The first one messed my head up completely, mood swings depression especially over the amount of muscle I have lost, a stone in body weight in 6 months was hard to come to terms with especially as I was so fit before I was diagnosed and started down the road of being a cancer patient, but my doctor gave me the time and listened to my worries, reassuring me, all the NHS staff have been amazing and very caring for a, at times, grumpy and scared  old man that I seemed to have become, but forcing myself not to wallow in what had become a pit of despair by walking with my dogs, working in my shed and garden, my shed is good at listening to my problems and doesn't answer back I have worked through this.

Despite asking for another PSA test they have told me I will not get my next one until 6 weeks after the end of my radiotherapy, I accepted that and put any worries I had about to the back of my head.

What the future is for me is  I don't know but when all those involved in my treatment assure me that I,m getting the best possible treatment, listen to my worries and reassure me that things will get better I am now looking forward to  my treatment ending and future.

It's been very hard for me mentally and physically, being a cry baby at 76 did actually help me, my wife and everyone else helping me listened and reassured me, the brain fog that seemed to engulf me has cleared, I know I have changed but I am working hard to get through this strange journey I'm on. Talking to others in the radiotherapy ward waiting for our treatment cheers me and them up no end.

Try and stay true to yourself, life is a big and at times hard journey, hold your head up and look towards the future whatever it may bring.

I wish you well and all the best.

Cyril

 Acme70  if your work is physical then I am amazed you can do a gym session as well, but as I said, we are all different.  Just try to make some changes and see what works for you.  I am 75, so can’t do what I could 10 years ago.  Let us know how you get on.  David

Yes, it's shit isn't it? But presumably marginally better than having that cancer spread. I was on the hormone treatment for 2 years and suffered really badly with it. 

After changing drugs and changing doses they eventually called it unacceptable toxicity and stopped it. It worked though. PSA was u detectable and I've been off it for 2 years.

The second 2 years have been great. I've lost the weight gain, rebuilt muscle, had a knee replacement and got back to running. I will be back on the HT at some point though, probably next year. They say often the second time isn't as bad as the first. We'll see. 

Good to hear your doing well, I did think about coming off it but I gonna see how things go for now. Can't wait to the day when things get back normal as well. Thanks 

Hi Cyril 

Thanks for the reply. Stay strong, I like these talk we all have as we all know what we're going through. Nce to know we can all support each other on this journey. Thanks