Medication Holiday.

Hello Armie . You are correct that for some men intermittent hormone therapy is a possibility if they have demonstrated a sustained negligible PSA and there is no radiographic evidence of cancer. I am not sure that 0.8 is classified as negligible but you would need to check this out with the experts.

Here is an informative video on the subject.

https://youtu.be/k92ETEqVYJ4?si=BobVmTiOi5nl1hB7

Hi Alwayshope.

Hope you are feeling well.

Thanks for your reply.

You are definitely right on this thank you.

I would need to speak further with my consultant and oncologist.

Yeah it would be a dream come true but also I would need to take a risk if going ahead. It would be always in the back of my mind that I would be upsetting the balance .

I think therefore I’m going to leave things the way they are.

Just dream thinking.

Keep fighting every one as one day they will find a cure for us all.

Thanks

Arnie.

Armie said:

Keep fighting every one as one day they will find a cure for us

This is precisely how we should all think, not because it is a nice thought, but because there is an increasing likelihood that it is going to be true. 

This is why, whenever I have "a moment", I mutter to myself "keep on keeping on", and try and do so. 

Keep on keeping on. 

Hi Armie , you have raised a good point and it is something I have chatted to my oncologist about over the years.  I have been 8 years on Zoladex and would love a break.  The issues in my case seem to be

1. I have already had a hormone resistant spread (hopefully zapped by RT), so recurrence very likely.

2. The time it would take for the hormone to stop being in my system might be years.

I keep asking though.  David

Morning David2017 . I don't think it is the hormone which remains in your system for many years as the half life analysis shows that it is out of it within weeks for the injections/implants and even quicker if you are on the tablets Orgovyx. The testosterone levels are a different matter and for older men it is unlikely that they will ever recover their pre castrate levels, or even a level above castrate numbers, if they have been on long term HT. This then begs the question as to what is causing the side effects - the hormone therapy or the castrate level and what is keeping the cancer at bay - the continued HT or the absence of testosterone. Should there be a trial to evaluate this subset of men based on QOL? I am rambling and hypothesising but you get the gist.

Hi Alwayshope thanks for that.  While I would love to be HT free, I also balance this against holding down any more mets.  QoL is important and mostly I am happy with the current balance.  Fatigue is by far my worst long term symptom but at 76 I really don’t know what I would have been like without PCa and the various treatments.  I managed to play a game of tennis last week for 90 mins (doubles) and am due to play again today.  Stamina isn’t great but recovery is reasonable, so I can balance this ok.  
I have been surprised how much the SABR took out of me.  It hit about 4 weeks after treatment and was bad for 8 weeks, but gradually improving.

I have just taken part in a National survey about QoL with cancer.  I think the NHS is recognising this now as being nearly as important as physical health.

I am glad you are both doing well and envy you with a 30 degree pool, but not sure I could stand the continuous sun and heat!  At least it’s not raining here today.  Best wishes David 

Hi Steve.

So Sorry for the late response.

Been at the hospital sorting out my wife’s medication.

Definitely Keep going the scientists are finding something new all the time.

Research going on as we speak .

Actium 225 tests being done.

Radioactive isotope kills the tumour and also goes into the marrow and kills it in the bone.Think positive.

Hi David.

Thank for your reply.

Sorry to hear you had to have radiotherapy for a spread after so long on the Zoldex.

 When the cure for us arrives I think it won’t take that long for HT to disappear from our system.

Wish you well.

Ps the cure will arrive.

Arnie

hi arnie hope you are ok ,im on 6 months on 6 months off HT Been on for 6 years so the effect starting to dissapate so monitoring the bloods closely . my last psa was 8.1 coming out of hormones but testestorone was at castrate level at 0.4 !! ..in 10 weeks PSA  has gone to 26.7 so having another retest and we all know the ambiquity of the psa system  but still fighting after 6  1/2 years ..john

Hi jmac 

I’m doing ok thank you.

Thats amazing 6 months on 6 months off for 6 years that’s brilliant.

How did you feel physically ie fatigue on the coming off ang going back on stage.

The monitoring is definitely the crucial part for you now.

Did it make you feel better within yourself that you were free of HT over that 6 monthly period. It would be like a kind of remission of sorts.

The Keep Fighting ,are the golden words.Positivity is the key for all of us.

Thanks

John.