What are the pros/cons of discontinuing Zoladex after 4 doses?
I am a 51 year old South Asian Male. I was diagnosed with Prostate cancer on 4/24/2019. Below is a quick summary: - Diagnosed by chance -- no symptoms at all; PSA - 30.76 - 5/22/2019 -- Clinically Significant Prostate Lesion; No significant malignant lesion on present scan - 5/29/2019 --
Radical Prostatectomy done - 7/25/2019 -- PSA Reading was 0.344; INVASION PRESENT: Perineural; Seminal Vesicle, Lymphovascular, 3Lymph Nodes - 11/14/2019 --
1st out of 33 radiation sessions started - 11/16/2019 -- FIRST ZOLADEX 10.8mg taken (One injection every 84 days to be taken) - 12/27/2019 -- Completed 33 Sessions of Radiation - 7/27/2020 - 4th ZOLADEX 10.8mg Injection taken
Due to the side effects and the fact that I feel perfectly normal (other than the side effects), and the PSA being close to 0, I am planning to not take the remaining 4 shots. Will closely monitor PSA to check for any increases. Please advise.
Hi ketanbhatia. Has your doctor had any thoughts on discontinuing the Zoladex? For your protection, we cannot give medical advice over the internet. Hormone therapy cannot cure prostate cancer, but it can stop the body from making testosterone and halt the growth of cancer or even shrink it. As noted in this article from the Mayo clinic, it is often used for "locally advanced prostate cancer, to make external beam radiation therapy more effective in reducing the risk of recurrence:" https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hormone-therapy-for-prostate-cancer/about/pac-20384737#:~:text=Why%20it's%20done,growth%20of%20prostate%20cancer%20cells. I can tell you my father-in-law had a combination of standard radiation and Cyberknife in the summer of 2019 and just had the last of his hormone shots a couple of months ago. His doctors were pretty adamant that he continue through with the shots due to the aggressive nature of his cancer. Of course, each person's situation and cancer is different and the decision on how to continue their care is a personal one. Wishing you the best. Richard (ProstateCancer.net Team)
