Fishing - anybody had lots of hormone therapy side-effects?

Hello Steve mstev2 

Oh please don't worry - I am sure the rest of the side effect will get you at some point!!

No honest I am only joking, BUT the serious thing is - you know the HT is working when your body starts to have these side effects and to know what they are and how to deal with them is half the battle - the other half is attitude!!!

And do remember along this journey you will have what I called "dark days". I knew when I was having them and with the help of Mrs Millibob and a confession on here that things were not good the support from the Community got me through.

You will get there - trust me!

kind Regards - Brian.

Hi Bric,

I think that when we are first put on HT the average person will immediately start to think in terms of side effects, & every little ache, twinge etc is a sign that they are kicking in.  

We are all individuals & our bodies react differently to treatments which for one person will manifest itself with certain side effects whereas the impact on another person will be different.  Most guys will find that whatever side effects they have are annoying rather than debilitating & will find ways to adapt & manage these to make the most of the situation they find themselves in.  I found it helped to think of what it was doing to the cancer & my body was working with the HT to give it a good kicking out of the park.

Best Wishes

Brian  

Hi Bric,

I hope you've found the replies from other Community members helpful so far.

I just wanted to let you know that I have updated the title of this discussion thread in order to make the subject a little clearer. This means it will be even easier for other members to find and comment upon.

If you need any help using the Online Community, please don't hesitate to email the Online Community Team directly at community@macmillan.org.uk, and we'll be glad to assist you.

Thanks for your help 

Hello, 

Could I jump on this thread and ask how soon peoples side effects started ? Was it within a few weeks of HT or took a while to build up ? Or different for each side effect ?

Many thanks

M

Hello M (GwenJ) 

The ED was almost immediate, everything else took it's time. It differs from person to person, some folk just don't get any, others me included get the lot!!

It was strange for me because I had some (itchy skin) that are not too common but mt GP confirmed it was a side effect.

Let's hope he doesn't get any.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi,

This changes per person, but below is my experience:

The loss of strength and stamina was quite immediate, I (used to) do a lot of sports and track my running/cycling speeds, and as soon as I started HT speeds plummeted, within 2 months I had to stop all my group activities as I couldn't keep up and couldn't do the distance.

Loss of libido started within 2-3 weeks.

Weight gain started after about 6 months, partly possibly as I was doing dramatically less sports and needed to adjust my diet. I was able to control that (stop increasing) with diet change though didn't manage to lose what I gained.

Fatigue started about 2 months in, feeling very tired all the time, getting extremely tired from doing very little efforts, either physically or mentally, and spells of absolute exhaustion that requires me to lie down every few hours. This for me is the hardest symptom to manage (though brain fog is a strong second place)

Hot flushes started after a month and got really bad after 2-3 months, I was eventually put on Medroxyprogesterone to get that under control.

Brain fog started about 2 months in and got worse about 4 months in, mainly complete inability to concentrate and 'solve' everyday puzzle like finding the right keys or doing complex things at work.

Loss of muscle was very evident 3 months in, I had to start going to the gym twice a week to control that, my runs didn't do the trick on their own.

Loss of body hair is very gradual, only really started to notice it a year in.

Hope this helps 

G

Hi All,

twelve months since finishing radiotherapy for locally advanced prostate cancer.

Stopped all medication as side effects were drowning me in hot cold sweat, with preceding flushes of varying intensity.

Presently investigating how to get some relief and a deep massage helps, rid myself of the toxins. I delayed radiotherapy 8 months si was on HT etc much longer which actually reduced  a cancer on node to zero.

I am investigating if being on HT etc longer is delaying the side effect stopping?

Testestorone is returning and this is apparently another source of these menopausal side effects ? 

I am a bore to be with presently investigating acupuncture also.

Hi my OH has ED pretty much straight away . Limited hot flushes but loss of muscle tone is dire. Following him completing 6 one day of RT he is to be brutal knackered . He get up in the morning has a shower , dresses and it’s an effort to cone  down stairs for breakfast . He has a nap then pushes himself to have a walk on his crutches ( injury to calf muscle ) . I honestly think he’s in a dark place due to the lethargy. His oncologist told him this would happen but bring a man he thought aye right I’m doing ten miles a day and will continue . Today he forced himself to walk in the afternoon and to be honest although tired he seems a bit better . 

hugs 

Liz & OH xxxx

Personally found CBD products very helpful, particularly kept my appitite good, as I not enjoying HT nor wanting to eat anything which I then had to pass…. I chew everything a lot to pass it