Hello friends
Hope all are in good spirits. I wanted to share my current treatment updates.
So, I have been put on abiraterone, prednisone, and Relugolix (Orgovyx). All are tablets. So its a combined androgen blockade.
After taking it for a month and half, i got my PSA and TESTO tests done. Both have reduced drastically and testo has dropped well below 50, which as we know is the target for castrate sensitive P Ca. Just to recap, in my case there is a BCR even after surgery and radiation.
My last psma scan showed 2 rt iliac lymph nodes affected. Surprisingly, in my case the first BCr was at same place, which disappeared after RT, and again came back at same spot. Luckily no other metastases.
Now talking of side effects. Yes I suffer from hot flashes. They come suddenly out of nowwhere and are disturbing. But now i am getting used to it.
Other than that I feel mood swings and have become emotionally fragile. Like for no reason i start weeping.
Other than that, I am maintaining my morning walks.
One strategy which I have adopted is to be aware of all possible side effects and be prepared for the same.
So I have started monitoring my bone health. I did my bone density scan today, and i am in the osteopenia range. So proactivley after discussing with my onco i have started my calcium and vit d supplements.
My cardiac profile is good so far. Got my liver functon tests done and is all good. This test and monitoring is reqd coz these meds of mine are known to raise liver enzymes ljke ALT and AST.
MY CBC shows mild anemia. But its a wait n watch for that. My lipids are ok with a mild inc in triglycerides.
My Hba1c is creeping up within the pre diabetic range.
So my advice is dont get caught unawares when ur on the ADT. Get the baseline testing done and then monitor the same so that corrective actions can be taken at the correct time.
In my case my onco has asked me to take a denosumab shot for my osteo condition. Thats coz my prednisone is going to further weaken my bones.
So i will be meeting my orthopedic to discuss pros and cons of denosumab and other safer options to maintain BMD.
So this is my update. Hope it helps.
If someone is on same meds like mine, you may msg me or send me a mail.
Stay safe stay blessed
Hello Warrior68
Thanks for the update - you are doing great. Sage Tablets cured my hot flushes, but they don't work for everyone.
As for crying, I can cry for England but there's no shame being a grown man crying, I get emotional and off I go.
Best wishes - Brian.
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Hi !
You’re not alone with mood swings and more emotional fragility and definitely have no problem weeping from time to time
I was initially on Firmagon (started i January) and my mode was more low.Then in April i added Abiraterone. Still low in the mode and added that my thinking was more ’slow’ and less focused.
Then in July I changed Firmagon to Orgovyx and now everything is more, the mood swings, the emotional instability and feeling more fragile. My says it take longer for me explain or for that it doesn’t come ut in a very concrete way but she actually likes that I seem to have a broader spectrum of feelings 
I have seen othera having mental things with the Orgovyx and Abiraterone treatment and perhaps it’s because of extreme castration.
Best wishes - Ulf
