Has anyone been on Casodex and Eligard?

Thanks for the reply, however my consulting radiologists and urology physicians all agreed that my therapy plan was the best route. I did have a 2nd opinion and was in-line with first 2. I am aware of the complications but these guys have a very high success rate. My husband went through a similar process but had different sequence and was more severe. My options also included doing nothing since my excellent health, physical condition and cancer confined to only the prostate. They all agreed I'd be fine for 5 or 10 years given the slow growth and the advanced age this was discovered. But.. the cancer was found everywhere in the prostate with all scores in the 6 and 7 range. So we elected to take a more aggressive route. I'm an avid skier and mountain climber and am having doubts of these meds slowing me down this winter when I start treatment. These meds are supposed to have fewer problems, but I'm not sure, thus my inquiry to anyone who has taken them. I'll only be on hormone treatment for 6 months max.

Aksn61,

You and I are about the same age, with exactly the same diagnosis of the PCa. Gleason of 6 and 7. I chose active surivillanc. My biopsy remains were sent to Prolaris for genetic testing. It was determined from the testing that my PCa was in the non aggressive range. With a 3% morality rate of not dying in 10 years. Treatment can be very invasive. With the results from the Prolaris test I chose AS over treatment.

Thanks for your reply. I will ask my doc about the genetic test to determine the agressive nature of my cancer. Im not familiar with Prolaris, nor has anyone suggested it when my biopsy report came in. We do agree on the survival stats for 5 and 10 years. I don't start anything until January.

I am 50 and was recently diagnosed with a Gleason 9. I decided in robotic radical prostatectomy. Had I been diagnosed with a 6 or 7 and I was in my 70s, I would choose active surveillance like roger chose.

While it is true as you say that you may have five to ten years of no prostate issues with AS, the fact is that OTHER diseases may cause you problems in the next ten years.

When you say you'll be on hormone therapy for only six months, I think that depends on just how you respond to it. Some folk are on it for three years, with serious side effects.

I would urge you to investigate all the options including AS, radiation, proton etc.

God luck.

Barney, The prolaris score indicated (my score) that I had only a 3% chance of dying in 10 years. At age 74 and 75 that is good odds. Some other ugly disease Will probably come in those 10 years and I betcha you do not have a 3% chance of that not happening. So, to avoid invasive treatment that might harm you in many ways, I decided to keep my erections and enjoy what little sex life is left. I do have faith on the Prolaris testing. I. Have talked/discussed my situation with their medical staff, they are very helpful with any issues or questions you have.

I agree that at 75 that is good odds.

and at that age I would enjoy life and stay away from invasive treatment, as you have done.

Thanks Barney, et. al.  The ONLY reason I will be using these hormones is to weaken the cancer, and shrink the prostate - not as a "therapy". The shortest cancer guideline timeframe was 6 months, which takes me to the end of the external beam cycle. My urologist and radiologist agree that once the short course is done, my prostate should begin to return to its functionality. In addition they recommend that I stay as physically active as I can throughout the treatments.  As a last step, they will start me on a daily dose of cialis for an undetermined period of time. As itt was explained to me, Eligar has a low impact on the prostate itself.  I'll be skiing during  the first 4 months of the treatment cycle.  Im not sure why the National Cancer Center did not include Proton therapy as an option.

Thanks for the clarification.

i suppose the NCC does not include Proton Therspy is because there is very little evidence of its success compared to surgery, radiation and hormone treatment.