ADT treatment
Any experiences having hormone treatment for recurrent / metastasized prostate cancer?
How long was it before the cancer became resistant to the treatment?
Then, what treatment was prescribed?
Eighteen years after initial treatment my cancer returned and metastasized to my lung. I have now been on ADT going on six months.
, thanks for posting these questions. How have these six months been? I'll be sure to send anyone with experience your way.
Best to you and stay safe!
Nina, (ProstateCancer.net Team)Also tagging
here as he's posted about mets to the lungs previously. 
- All great questions! My only experience with ADT was with a Lupron shot given just prior to undergoing radiation. The shot as offered in 1 - 3 or 6 month variations. While I thought it was going to be a 3 shot since the treatment protocol was only 8 weeks, I was surprised when I ended up with the 6 month version. Personally I had a lot of reactions to the ADT (Lupron) and almost none to the radiation. Concerning your question on ADT resistance - I am a civilian grant reviewer for the Dept of Defense's project on metastatic prostate cancer. Many of the proposals I see are for ADT resistance. From the 60+ that I have reviewed over the past 2 years, the amount of time for ADT resistance to build appears to vary by patient.
I can only surmise there is no magic number. It depends on how your body reacts to the protocols - I am familiar with one individual who has been on ADT for almost 20 years. At the same time a former business partner of mine became resistant in just months. Why? No one knows as far as I can tell.
One of the coaches at our prostate cancer survivor meetings tells guys to take off a sock and look at the bottom of their foot. He then asks if they see a expiration date printed there. All say no ... and then he says "Exactly so live your life now and enjoy every day" ... not a bad message to remember.
The future happens every day and no matter how much we worry ... nothing will change it. Hang in there 😀
...Dennis(ProstateCancer.net Team)
Hi jameshoolsema. As Dennis said, how long ADT remains effective for metastatic PCa often varies by individual. What I want to draw your attention to is the fact that there are now some treatments for castration resistant metastatic cancers, such as Erleada and now Xtandi. I'm sure, with continued research, there are more in the pipeline. Hopefully these other treatments will not be necessary for some time, but know that there are increasing number of options becoming available. Best, Richard (ProstateCancer.net Team)
