Impotence Support - Lupron and other hormone treatment for cancer

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Lupron and other hormone treatment for cancer - what does it feel like?

OldDogLearning

2006-08-31, 4:25 pm

>From what I know, hormone therapy for prostate cancer, after the
opereation, is to have an injection of lupron. Has anyone here been
living with that treatment? I think it drives out all thoughts and
desires for sex. Sex is an important matter for me, so I am refusing
the treatment. I wonder if the hormone therapy is as bad as I am told -
It essentially stops the production of testosterone, eliminates
interest in sex, although erections might be possible through the usual
methofs.

My doctor is pushing to have me take drugs that will essentially remove
my testicles. Sounds weired? This is standard treatment in prostate
cancer. I already had my prostate removed five years ago. I am 71.
Tests done at the time showed the my PSA test score was ZERO However,
ofver five years it has been going up form 0.0 to 6. This together
with a score of 9 on the gleason scale (measure of original prostate's
propensity to spread and tumor growth, as I understand).

The doctor claims I will be dead in five years withouit doing
something, even though there are no signs of cancer, other then the
test report fof the PSA. An oncologist said it could go up much more
and I would never need to do anything, except watch for any signs of
cancer showing up in CAT or Bone Scans. None are there now.

I did have lupron before the operaiton and remember it made me feel
completely without interest in much of anything - a sort of emptiness.
Mostly I was worried and about the operation, not sex.

Since the operation and even before, i have had severe ED and lack of
nerve and opportunity to have more than very little sex. Nerve is over
not wanting to have a problem with ED.Nevertheless, I think about sex a
good part of my day, am very attracted to women, and would have sex
much more often, given the oportunity. Lack of sex to me seems like
lack of life, so why bother to extend a useless life?

That is my thinking. I would like to know if the hormone treatment will
make me into a Eunnic (sp?) . Before, in fact, the urologists removed
both testicles of men who need this treatment as it was much more
effective.

So if anyone is on this hormone treatmet, it would help me to deside.

Thanks.

OldDogLearning

2006-08-31, 9:24 pm

Yes, I understand that part because hewas taken off off the hormone
treatment. There are some claims and counter-claims the hormones after
radiation is a good treatment. The good part for your cousin is that
whether or not hormones were necessary, the doctors eventually took him
off. I know that in mine dose of a three month supply, afterwards
things were back to as normal as they are ever going to be. Now,
however, my urologist wants me to go on Lupron and another similar drug
FOR LIFE. That sounds more like for DEATH (no sexual interest at all?
Sometimes I think some doctors live in a dream world of what is
"quality of life).

I noticed just the other day that my health insurance did not pay
anything for a medical device - a vacume pump for ED. They also do not
pay for ED drugs, whether or not Senator Dole and other luminaries say
they are great. However, if I overeat and eat junk food they will
pay out a lot more than the paltry amount I needed. Medical device? How
obout smoking cigs for a lifetime until you get lung disease and need
not only medicine but "medical devices" to BREATH. They will pay for
that too, even though the cigs were not the only causes of the disease.

I feel these is the anti-sex zealots and puritans who would prefer
everyone to be as pure as they are (or imply they are).

Not too many people buy this, but we seem unable to complain about this
discrimination.

Well, now back to Lupron - the chemical that eats the family jewels.
Anybody else tried it?

LMac wrote:
> Cousin underwent a year of Lupron along with radioactive 'seeding'
> several years ago. Spoke with him in June. Claims to be back in the
> saddle again. No idea about how long it took him to "bounce back" (his
> term) when the Lupron was discontinued.
>
> ...Lmac