Zoladex Injection

Hello Lizzie.

Welcome to the group. Hopefully we can give you a few pointers to help you get the best treatment for your dad. It would help if you could give us an idea of when he was diagnosed and what his Gleason, PSA and TNM was as this can help others give you a more focused response.

Firstly is the doctor your dad's GP or is it part of the cancer team? Under the circumstances I think your dad needs a full review of his treatment path with the team if the HT is having such an effect on him. Bone thinning is a side effects of the drug but hopefully your doctor has this monitored and if necessary put him on the right medication along with Calcium and Vitamin D supplements. Also there is another type of implant called Leuprorelin/ Prostaplant which may suit your dad better. It is important to encourage your dad to move around as much as possible as this helps strengthen both bones and muscles. I bought my husband a wheeled walker with a seat for when we go shopping as this makes me feel he is safer, less likely to fall and can rest when he needs to, but more importantly keeps him active. Is it worth reconsidering RT? With the latest machines and expertise there is a high chance that your dads cancer could be eliminated so that he could come off the HT if he has a low grade cancer. I think that most men will tell you that the HT has the biggest impact on their bodies both physically and mentally and have learnt tips from the group here on how to deal with the side effects such as sage tea for hot flushes, antidepressants if necessary, exercise..... The HT will remain in your dads system for some time even if he stops having the implant but if he does stop then the cancer will get its food source of testosterone back and so continue to grow. With a low grade PCa Active Surveillance is sometimes recommended but I am assuming this was not an option in your dad's case?

I am sure others will come along and welcome you and share their experiences and come up with some tips. Please feel free to ask any questions and I am sure someone will try and help.

Hello LizzyJ A warm welcome to our little exclusive club.

I am so sorry to read about your dad'd diagnosis, hormone therapy can have some side effects on the body which are life changing - even at my age 68 I have to make plenty of changes to my normal lifestyle to cope - and I have been on HT for 22 months!!

Alwayshope has already stolen my thunder with her great post, so I can only wait for your answers to the questions regarding Dad's diagnosis and his "GP" before I can give you a more positive response.

I look forward to hearing from you and wish you and your dad all the best.

Kind regards - Brian.

Thanks for your reply, yes he's my dad's GP. 

He was diagnosed Oct. last year. 

His Gleason grading was 3+3 and 4+3

And Gleason score 6/10 and 7/10

The last PSA check was 1.423

Thank u Millibob, he was recently diagnosed with Cerebral Atrophy also, zoladex is making it worse. Making him exercise is extremely difficult because he doesn't seem to understand anything anymore. Right now, he's on a wheelchair with his speech muffled. I want a permanent solution so he can stop zoladex as soon as possible. The first respondent has giving some pointers which I will discuss with his Dr about. Thanks u. 

HILizzyJ  Thanks for your quick reply.

Personal opinion based on his age, other conditions and the side effects of HT I would think he needs to come off the hormone therapy - stick to calcium/vitamin D tablets to keep up his bone strength and go for the Radiotherapy treatment.

I found out my G P had no idea of the side effects of hormone therapy had on my Type Two diabetes. Hormone therapy can reduce a perfectly healthy person to an aged wreck (that's how i first felt before I started to exercise daily) and 22 months down the line still on HT it's a constant fight against the side effects. At 77, in a wheelchair with Cerebral Atrophy he's no chance of shaking the fatigue off.

Sorry about that - it reads almost like a rant against HT but it's a personal opinion - I hope this helps.

Keep us posted please about how your dad gets on.

Best wishes - Brian..

Thanks a lot but I heard that even while on radiotherapy zoladex is given and after the therapy before eventually stopped. 

Secondly, don't u think radiotherapy also has its own side effect and if added to his current condition can make him worse?

I'm nervous. 

HI LizzyJ  I an on the HT/RT journey (you can read my entire journey by clicking on the image of the beach next to my name).

He can stop the hormone therapy any time and he doesn't need it whilst on RT. The issues with RT are:

* You need to attend hospital for a planning scan and then for 20 daily fractions. The issue here could be the travelling for your dad each day.

* I was 67 whilst having my RT - The only issues with RT was a couple of days having issues with my movements and urination and some fatigue - but I was back to normal after a couple of weeks.

* There can be long term issues with RT but touch wood - 10 months down the line I haven't had any!

It's a hard choice as to which treatment would be best for him - if any. i assume the last PSA of 1.423 was after he started on hormone therapy - what was his PSA on diagnosis?

Best wishes - Brian.

Thank u, I will read.