I agree with in that radiation was a non event for me as well. I think I would like to have explored using SpaceOAR to reduce possibility of proctitis and not need to manage how full my bladder was for each session, but otherwise very few issues.
The ADT was the most difficult part for me as well. Needing to produce daily erections to maintain erectile health was a bit of a grind, but the real challenge for me was the overwhelming emotions. It was otherwise a personal growth experience, I feel, as these symptoms parallel what women experience with menopause.
So how long does it last? That will vary quite a bit from individual to individual. On July 27, 2020 my testosterone was <12 ng/dl (medically castrate). My final "one month" Lupron injection was August 4, 2020 and on November 2, 2020 my testosterone was 359.0. It has since varied between 200s and 300s.
But that is not the whole story of recovery. I seem to be going through a second "puberty" as late as 11 months after the August 4 injection. I would love to talk to an endocrinologist to understand what our systems are doing as we recover from ADT.
I have been sexually active the entire time, with and without libido. Fatigue, emotions and sensitive breasts continued through the "puberty".
Guy B. Meredith, moderator.