Bicalutamide Tablets

Unfortunately fatigue is a well known side effect of Bicalutamide. However, if he is moving on to hormone treatment then the Bicalutamide will finish in a couple of weeks. It is important to try to take exercise as this can help with the fatigue. Walking a couple of miles a day will help a lot. He should also take a rest in the afternoon.

I hope that helps.

You may find the Macmillan booklet helpful.

You can download it from here

be.macmillan.org.uk/.../p-24977-coping-with-fatigue-tiredness.aspx

I've experienced fatigue and problems with memory (silly things) I'm 50. But believe to poor sleep due to nocturnal toilet visits plus sub conscious worries at night 

It's interesting to note that your husband is starting Bicalutamide first then having his hormone injection start later.

For myself the two ran concurrently. Fatigue was a major problem, especially once the hot flushes kicked in too. At the time I was still working so I was active through the day, but found I needed to rest more often as a result. Needless to say I slept like I'd never slept before at night. He will find a balance in due course.

Ed presented itself too. That was a delicate challenge in itself.

It's early days and I wish you and your hubby all the best.

It is standard practice to give bicalutamide first to prevent “tumour flare” when the first HT injection is given. 

That’s how it was organised for me.

See the link https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/treatment/cancer-drugs/drugs/bicalutamide

That is how it should be done bicalutamide started a week to ten days prior to first hormone injection and carried on for may be a week after the first injection.  The first injection should be a 1 month injection followed by 3 monthly injections mine was a nightmare.  I got to the nurse for my injection and she said "How did you feel over the last month since your first injection - as the type of injection could be changed if side effects were bad.  Told her but i haven't had an injection yet this is my first!  "Oh.  Have you had the bicalutamide tablets"  No!  Then the biggest cods up was made when the GP said I should start the bicalutamide 3 days after the injection but have the 3 month injection there and then because they didn't have the one month!  Doesn't seem to have made a difference to me but really just shows you how bad some admin is and how little GP's actually know about the treatment.  OF course it would have been better if the urologist or oncologist could have been in charge or ordered the medication and injection but here it is left up to your GP what you get.  I hear that some GP's do not give bicalutamide at all. 

Oh my goodness that sounds a nightmare...my husband started those tablets 9 days ago and he goes for his first injection next Thursday...he is experiencing fatique since starting tablets. However looks like that is a big side effect. We have a long way to go but we are both positive although at times it seems so overwhelming but we see the funny side and crack on. Thankyou to this forum anf the replies it means a lot. 

Flightsim, I'm interested did you have to stop work or had you planned to retire anyway. I'm younger than you about to start chemo and hope to carry on working for many years to come

Every oncology consultant seems to have a different idea about the time between the start of Bicalutamide and hormone injections. Mine said I should have the first hormone injection three to seven days after starting Bicalutamide. My GP said the same (wonders will never cease) but did modify the HT to two 1 monthly injections followed by 3 monthly ones.

There is also quite a lot of variation in the duration of HT itself. My consultant insists on three years, some only require two years and some will stop HT very soon after radiotherapy is finished.

   There is indeed quite some variation in the way Bicalutamide and Hormone therapy is prescribed. Poor freefaller was involved in a right old fiasco. I followed the link given regarding the way Bicalutamide is recommended to be prescribed. However there is a caveat early on in the fact sheet under the heading “Taking Tablets”. It’s enclosed in a red box which I can’t reproduce on my tablet  it states -

Taking tablets