Stop taking HT ?

Hello Louise (Louise73) 

So he's a Gleason 8, Initial PSA 28, T4a/T4N0.

Personal opinion, no stick with it - he's not on it for life and I assume he's on a "Curative Pathway". I wouldn't be taking advice from the GP either - they lack experience in Prostate Cancer treatments - he needs to speak to his oncology team.

OK - if he comes off it early for quality of life - what if it comes back? What treatment then?

I've been on HT for almost 4 years, yes, I have had almost every side effect going but I value medical advice and I know my team want to keep me alive. I am a T3aN0M0.

There's other cures for hot sweats apart from sage- ask your GP for Medroxyprogesterone - fatigue and lethargy happen, when I suffer I just take the dog for a walk. I am aware it's a question of quality of life but I can't go against medical advice.

At the end of the day, it's his personal choice - let me know what you think - I can signpost you to further help if you think he would accept it.

Best wishes - Brian.

I agree with Millibob ,

Any help to keep the cancer away at this stage is good for you even with a few side effects.

The brain fog is old age. The sexual stuff cal be over come by various means - see your doctor.

The standard of life is a mental thing and should be addressed by talking or prescribing professionals.

Look, it’s not easy nor is it nice but we are men and we can overcome, we are behind you so grab life by the scruff of its neck and enjoy each day saying “I will survive”.

Hello Louise,

I have to disagree with Millibob - and agree with him at the same time !   I was getting all sorts of strange things going on - way more than the "usual" side effects (most of which I didn't actually get). I wanted to try and rule out all the possible causes...........stopping the HT early was one of them. Another was B12 levels - get this checked, I was way down !! There is quite a bit of "informed and reputable" opinion online regarding giving HT for shorter periods than what has long been considered the usual period. I would not have asked my GP on this. I floated this past my cancer specialist nurse - within a couple of hours I had a call from the Oncologist !  After some lengthy discussion on this it was stated by the Oncologist that the risk of my coming off HT early was minimal - I did stop early, after 18 months instead of 24. 

As lots of people say on this site - "everyone is different". I was Gleason 9, PSA 19, contained, no discernible spread, "curative" pathway.............................BUT ...I am in my 81st year, which puts me and your hubby way apart. My outlook is hugely different from his. He could reasonably expect another 25 years ............I certainly wasn't looking that far ahead !!  Two years of HT misery means entirely different things to me compared to him.   If it all goes pear shaped I go back on the HT............but I will have had 12 half-decent months in the mean time.  Certainly consider it with him - but with the experts on board !           

I had my last HT "top up" in Sept 2025, I think most of it has leached out me by now - just had my latest PSA - 0.05, my MDT is happy with that and so am I. I do not regret stopping early in the slightest - but what I did was based on what my MDT had to say about it, as much as I did.

Unfortunately, the ultimate decision is down to you two - my story applies to me alone !.