Yes, insomnia is but one of the lovely side effects.

Yes, insomnia is but one of the lovely side effects.

Thanks, Larry. I'm adding your experience to the results of my ADT SE poll
of this group for my future reference. It ain't pretty.

There is some basis for your doc's two-year recommendation; the only ADT
duration proven by trials at that time to help after RP is 28 months; maybe
he applied that result to your radiation-based protocol.

And, yes . . . ADT clobbers sleep in at least two ways. T deprivation
impairs sleep directly (one reason we sleep more poorly as we grow old), and
the hot flashes. Even my very mild flashes were enough to impair my sleep
for three months following my single 28-day experiment with Zoladex.

I.P.

<snip>

<snip>
I've just come to the grim awareness that any Clinical Trial Study
just re-classifies the patient as a Lab-Rat.
I also doubt the "Randomisation" of which "Arm" of the study is
assigned to you. Your pre-qualification Data are fed into a so-called
"Artificial Intelligence" program in some remote computer and your
"Randomisation Arm is spat out". IMHO, the computer is loaded with
past data fed in by Humans, so it's just like sifting dirt thru a
sieve in your back garden. You don't need to be a Rocket Scientist to
know what your Treatment Regime will be, if you've already made an
assessment of your condition prior to entering a Clinical Trial.
I must admit I welcomed being in one as it was the only option
remaining for me and also was free (to a large degree).

So where am I going with this Rant?

I went into the trial with fairly bad Osteo-Arthritis in both feet,
ankles and R knee. This has now been exacerbated by ADT to the point
where I'm now on fairly heavy pain-killers, but now my good L knee is
also painful and I'm having difficulty getting DOWN a small flight of
stairs without handrails.

I've completed 23 fractions of EBRT and now have Cellulitis in my R
lower leg. The Govt. Podiatrist and my local GP have suggested this
could be a SE of  the Radiation AND the ADT lowering my resistance.
The GP is holding it at bay with oral Anti-Biotics, but it's slow to
recede.

I'm up for 3 fractions of HDRB come July 11-14 and scheduled for 3
more Lucrin, (similar to Zoladex), Injections finishing December 2005.

I've asked about BMD tests and have been told by the Rad Onc and the
GP that they are only for patients presenting with signs of
Osteoporosis, (not Osteoarthritis), prior to Treatment, plus any bone
supplements would not relieve pain and would only serve to strengthen
and rebuild bone lost by resorption thru ADT, plus would take 18 mths
to work.

So in summary, if you're in a Clinical Trial, you're locked into the
hand of cards that's dealt to you, (like a train on tracks), until the
Trial is completed. They don't really give a sh.t about your SE's so
long as you complete the Trial and your Data are fed into the computer
for the next lot of Lab-Rats.

If you Opt out of the Lucrin/Zoladex without completing the prescribed
period in the Trial, any futher Treatment/Monitoring/Salvage Therapy
Procedures become Billable at Full Cost, which may be offset by
Insurance or Medicare, but you would possibly need a Lawyer to recover
any Monies as you would've been blacklisted for Opting out of the
Trial.

Have a nice day (it may well be your last!)

-- Reader to complete...
-- Please reply to this ng as my email adress is fake:

-- Regards

-- CC

<snip>

_______

Hi Larry, So glad you found my comments and that they were helpful.
I'll be interested to see (an understatement!!) how long it takes the
SE's to wear off, and I'll keep everybody posted.

Marshall