prostate cancer medication

Hi Mike,

I've been two years on Abiraterone (I'm off it now), the main side effects for me were significant fatigue and brain-fog. I needed several naps a day to keep me going. I recommend doing resistance training (weight lifting) to combat the muscle loss.  It's a harsh treatment but incredibly effective. 

Hope this helps 

G

Hi LIM.

2 years of fatigue?  how did you manage weight lifting with fatigue? 

what are you on now? 

not looking forward to this.  seems quality of life is over. what's the point 

i need to thnk about  all these drugs there giving out.  

doesn't get better does it!   hope your doing ok.  

mike....

I didn’t have much to moan about with abiraterone in fact I had hardly any fatigue or brain fog at all and carried on as if nothing had happened. This was my first treatment along side Zoladex and my lifestyle was preserved.

I am not using abiraterone, but am on Zoladex.

I do suffer from fatigue.

It is enough to have to adapt to, not enough to be crippling. I can push through it.

Adaptation is the key. This is not crippling. Standing back and assessing what you need to do, and then want to do, and arranging rest periods to get it all in works well.

I have been able to live a life which is not dramatically different to before, and am exercising better.

The point is beating this cancer.

My treatment is with curative intent and a duration of 3 years, my stance was I will suffer whatever it takes to get rid of this thing, and get my life back. Yes, for me the impact of Abiraterone on QoL was significant, but we're all different and it may not be as bad for you. I was 'happy' to endure this short term (2 years) as my oncologist said it will significantly improve my chance of beating this thing.  I am young (I started my treatment age 49)  and hope to get a decent number of years post treatment so a good bang for my buck on this medication.

I found weightlifting with fatigue more manageable than cardio, as even when I was too tired to run I could always muster the energy for a 30 seconds burst of energy, do one set of lifting, and recover for 2 minutes before I have the energy for another set.

I am now on Orgovyx, and QoL is much better. You can click on my user to see my full journey.

See how you get on with Abiraterone, we're all different.

G

Hello Mike (mike3561 ) 

mike3561 said:

not looking forward to this.  seems quality of life is over. what's the point 

i need to thnk about  all these drugs there giving out.  

Christmas 2021 I nearly died - 4.5 years later life is good, much better than the alternative! (click in my name or avatar for the full story).

I've been on Hormone Therapy for yonks - I've had every side effect going and some not even listed - I too am a Gleason 9 with a much higher PSA than yours.

What's not to love about life - Life is great - your team are looking after you - you need to trust them and work through this.

Best wishes - Brian.

HI Brian.  

good to know your doing well.  i don't mean to complain i know  my team are doing there best . 

my main thing that's going on right now is my hot flushes while on relugolix. 

first 3 days went well not many of them.

 then wham!   last 4 days i'm getting them every 20 minutes. (no exagerating)

like someone pressed a button every 20 minutes nearly the exact time.

between 20 and 25 minutes non stop.

yesterday had 45 in 12 hours  today 32 in 10 hours.   sweating mainly face chest and back.  really bad no sleep. 

 waiting for a call tomorrow for advice.

anyone have similar  amount on this medication?

mike

i'm also on Orgovyx  (relugolix) and it's hell!  only been on it for 8 days. 

but the last 3 days having very bad hot flushes. there coming every 2o minutes non stop  24/7  yesterday i had 45 in 12 hours today  32 in 10 hours. plus sweating as well

thinking i might have to stop  due to the amount.  

i read that it's usual to have a few a day maybe 5 or 10 

but 45 in a day, plus no sleep!

what to do!

I've had severe hot flashes when I've started HT, eventually I was prescribed medroxyprogesterone and that's sorted it. I've been on it for over 2 years.

Hi Lim.

 that's good to know.

can you define severe?  like how many a day  for instance? 

i'm wondering is 45 a day unusual!  that's what i'm getting  just 8 days in from taking relugolix. 

mike...