Open main menu ☰
HealingWell
Search Close Search
Health Conditions
Allergies Alzheimer's Disease Anxiety & Panic Disorders Arthritis Breast Cancer Chronic Illness Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes
Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Migraine Headache Multiple Sclerosis Prostate Cancer Ulcerative Colitis

View Conditions A to Z »
Support Forums
Anxiety & Panic Disorders Bipolar Disorder Breast Cancer Chronic Pain Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux
Hepatitis Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Multiple Sclerosis Ostomies Prostate Cancer Rheumatoid Arthritis Ulcerative Colitis

View Forums A to Z »
Log In
Join Us
Close main menu ×
  • Home
  • Health Conditions
    • All Conditions
    • Allergies
    • Alzheimer's Disease
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Arthritis
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Illness
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Migraine Headache
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Support Forums
    • All Forums
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Pain
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Hepatitis
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Ostomies
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Log In
  • Join Us
Join Us
☰
Forum Home| Forum Rules| Moderators| Active Topics| Help| Log In

Three different opinions on how long to take hormones

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
profile picture
goody5
Regular Member
Joined : Mar 2008
Posts : 66
Posted 4/26/2008 6:18 AM (GMT -7)
Ok, My Uncle decided to get his fourth and final opinon at Fox Chase Cancer Center. This is how we stand

Urologist: Short term use of hormones and no radiation

Local Radiologist and U penn Oncologist: Life time hormones nad 8 weeks radiation.

Fox Chase: Intermittent hormones and 8 weeks radiation

She said that they have done studies and have found that

giving hormones intermittently has better effect.  She is contacting the radiologist that my Uncle has chosen to speak with him about their findings.  She said sometimes other doctors will work with them and sometimes they won't.

Any opinions? 

Still moving forward...had first of many Eligard shots. We are now going to "Hot Flash" together tongue

profile picture
Doting Daughter
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2007
Posts : 1064
Posted 4/26/2008 7:42 AM (GMT -7)
Your situation is so similar to ours. The more opinions you get, the more opinions you get This is such a personal decision and I feel that your uncle truly has to be onboard with whatever treatment in order to win this. When we first met with the RO and Oncologist, my father didn't want to hear about RT and HT. We (my mom, husband and I) were really worried, because from the studies we read, we felt that RT and HT were his only chance (if any) of a cure, which some will say that once it has spread to the lymph nodes that there is no cure, but I have read cases where with local lymph node involvement following radiation and HT, men have done well for YEARS. My father's urologist, who diagnosed the cancer, recommended not doing RT and waiting to start HT, similar to what your urologist said. However, studies have shown that with lymph node involvement, men have done better starting HT immediately. We also based our decision on another study that showed the 5 year recurrence was much less for men who did RT and HT. This is a new study, your urologist might not be familiar with. This was our only chance to do RT, because if the cancer spreads, RT is no longer an option. Therefore, my father agreed to do 8 weeks of RT and 2 years of HT. He just finished his 8th week on Tuesday and will have his first PSA in three months. The RT was very tolerable and we are praying that it nuked any cancer remaining. There are obviously no guarantees. Best case scenario, we are hoping for a cure. Worst case scenario, we hope that it has bought my father more time, until they find a cure. Best wishes in your treatment decision. Gather all the info you can, and don't look back. Second guessing doesn't do any good. Father's Information DX July 15, 2007 Age 62 (now 63) PSA 5.5 Original Gleason 3+4=7 Post Surgery Gleason- 4+3=7 DaVinci Surgery Aug 31, 2007 Focally Positive Right Margin One positive node Bone Scan/CT Negative (Sept. 10, 2007) T3a N1 M0 Oct. 17 PSA 0.07 Nov. 13 PSA 0.05 Casodex adm. Nov 07 Lupron beg. Dec 03, 2007 2 yr Radiation started March 03-April 22, 2008- 8 weeks 5x a week 8 weeks of radiation down!!! Praying for a cured dad. First PSA 3 months!   Post edited to single space signture... Post Edited By Moderator (bluebird) : 4/26/2008 9:42:06 PM (GMT-6)
profile picture
livinadream
Veteran Member
Joined : Apr 2008
Posts : 1382
Posted 4/26/2008 4:01 PM (GMT -7)
I remember when I got my second opinion, my hope and prayer was that it would match the first opinion so I would not have to seek a third one. Cancer and cancer treatments are very difficult to grasp, because many doctors use certain techniques that they have found to be best. I agree with dotingdaughter the best treatment is the one you are comfortable with. I personally went thru the radiation and I will be on hormone therapy for two years. My research indicated that it was the right course of treatment for me. One thing I would like to ad is this, I truly believe that attitude, and faith are better than half the battle. Please try to remain positive and find the blessing amidst this dreaded disease. Please keep us posted as to how the course of treatments go, and if you would like to email me we could chat more about this.

peace and love
Dale
profile picture
myman
Veteran Member
Joined : Feb 2007
Posts : 1219
Posted 4/26/2008 5:57 PM (GMT -7)
My husband is on HT and will be until it no longer works. We had a number of docs who all agreed as his cancer had spread to distant lymph nodes.

Doctors give their opinion based on studies, experience and what a patient presents to them, so it's a tough decision on your part to determine what avenue is best.
Everything has to be weighed - what do these doctors expect the results to be, how will your uncle tolerate the side effects, does he have other health concerns that factor in...you get the picture. His decision, once made, will be a relief and he can move on from there. My husband's PSA is undetectable and we hope it stays that way for a long time. We wish the same for you.
Please keep us up on how things are going - we do care.

Susan
profile picture
Tony Crispino
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2006
Posts : 8151
Posted 4/27/2008 7:16 AM (GMT -7)
Hi Cheryl,
All of the doctors are reflecting the contraversy that surrounds your uncles stage. So none are wrong and none can say they are right 100%. I know that sounds like nothing you want to hear but it is what it is. Here comes Tony's opinion again so if you can grin and bear it:

The Urologist: I believe that a urologist should stick to things like plumbing and infections. Since that is 90% of what they do, it is their specialty. Saying that no local treatment will work is blindly saying that is 100% fact. Well it isn't. And even if is a small chance that local treatment along with HT will help, small is big.

The radiologist and the Penn Oncologist: They are giving you uncle a shot at that small chance. The only thing that would have me hesitant is the declaration that HT will be a lifetime treatment is again premature. There is still a chance that the radiation alone can cure this thing. but adding HT now is prudent given your uncles stage.

The Fox oncologist: IHT or intermittent HT is what you should strive for. If he can't get there so be it, but any doctor suggesting a lifetime of HT should try it themselves. I am 100% certain that once they start it, they will be looking forward to the day they stop it.

Feels like "Let's Make a Deal" doesn't it? The door behind Carol Merrill, and a shot at the Big Deal. Well my two cents worth: I agree most with the Fox oncologist.
profile picture
jwb187
Regular Member
Joined : Apr 2007
Posts : 101
Posted 4/27/2008 7:39 AM (GMT -7)
Lots of schools of thought on Hormone Treatment, see my signature and statistics. My Doctors immediately put me on Lupron after I apparently had a failed surgery due to my psa still being present in quantities of more than .2, to wit .62 and then a recheck a couple of weeks later of .59. I was told that I would be on HT for two years then a very close monitoring of my psa after that, if any appreciable rise then back on HT, probably forever. I still have another one+ year to go, fortunately I have very few side effects mostly just hot flashes. I'm hoping that the two years of HT plus the 35 IMRT treatments will have taken care of anything residual left in the prostate bed and I'll be rid of this dreaded disease. Good luck all....jwb.
profile picture
goody5
Regular Member
Joined : Mar 2008
Posts : 66
Posted 4/27/2008 4:07 PM (GMT -7)
Thank You everyone for your heartfelt replies. I do believe we are ready to land in a place we are all comfortable. We are now finding out that there might have been a warning sign a year ago. I am going to post about it to help others as soon as I get the information.
Thanks again
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply

More On Prostate Cancer

Positive For Prostate Cancer

Positive For Prostate Cancer

An Unexpected Diagnosis Of Prostate Cancer

An Unexpected Diagnosis Of Prostate Cancer



HealingWell

About Us  |   Advertise  |   Subscribe  |   Privacy & Disclaimer
Connect With Us
FacebookFacebook TwitterTwitter InstagramInstagram PinterestPinterest LinkedInLinkedIn
© 1997-2021 HealingWell.com LLC All Rights Reserved. Our website is for informational purposes only. HealingWell.com LLC does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.