Re: Question from a correspondent

[Guest guest]

I was on it for a month at the start of my treatment and then changed to Eligard (LHRH-agonist). No blood tests including T were done. Urologists don't seem to bother with blood tests. SteveDate: Sat, 16 Jan 2010 23:41:37 -0000To: Prostate Cancer Support e-group<ProstateCancerSupport >Subject: Question from a correspondentI'd like to ask if anyone has used degarelix / Firmagon GnRH-antagonist. If so are they monitoring LH/FSH and T level ?The information leaflet seems somewhat questionable and I am wondering if it really is equivalent to LHRH-agonist.

[Guest guest]

steve.bergerson wrote:

> I was on it for a month at the start of my treatment and then

> changed to Eligard (LHRH-agonist). No blood tests including T

> were done. Urologists don't seem to bother with blood tests.

Unfortunately, that seems to be common. However I would

recommend that anyone on hormone therapy get periodic tests of

testosterone level (to be sure that the ADT is actually working -

it doesn't always for all men) and probably other factors.

My clinical trial doctors did a standard set of blood tests after

I had been on Lupron a while and found that I had elevated liver

enzymes, indicating liver damage. They took me off the Lupron

(which, fortunately, was only an adjuvant to my radiation and not

a requirement), and my liver enzyme level went back to normal.

Blood tests aren't invasive or expensive. I'm not a doctor, but

it really seems reasonable to me to perform them.

If I were going back on ADT I would want a complete set of blood

tests before the first treatment, including testosterone level,

so that I'd have a baseline to compare against if problems arose

later on ADT.

Alan

[Guest guest]

I am not taking anything currently as I am intermittent.  The numbers from degarlelix's trial showed that testosterone levels dropped more quickly than the comparable GnRH-antagonists and that they did not cause an initial PSA flare. 

It is a brand new drug so there is only a very limited number of actual experiences that any of us could  share, but the numbers look very good.

 

I'd like to ask if anyone has used degarelix / Firmagon GnRH-antagonist. If so are they monitoring LH/FSH and T level ?The information leaflet seems somewhat questionable and I am wondering if it really is equivalent to LHRH-agonist.

 

-- T Nowak MA, MSWDirector for Advocacy and  Advanced Prostate Cancer Programs, Malecare Inc. Men Fighting Cancer TogetherSurvivor - Thyroid, Recurrent Prostate and Renal Cancers

www.advancedprostatecancer.net - A blog about advanced and recurrent prostate cancerwww.malecare.com - information and support about prostate cancer

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/advancedprostatecancer/ - an online support group for men and their families diagnosed with advanced and recurrent prostate cancer