Anyone have experience with intermittent hormonal treatment?

I have come off treatment for the 2nd time (3rd if you count the time after
the RRP).

I am interested in how long people generally stay on intermittent therapy
before going hormonal refractory.

My stats below:

Diag: 10/98 psa 21, gleason 7, later upgraded to 8
Chose aggressive chemotherapy program prior to RRP with hope of killing any
microscopic PCa that might have escaped the prostate capsule.

Starting in Jan 1999, 16 week (trial) program...estramustine 3x per day, 5
days per seek, taxol infusion weekly, and carboplatin monthly.  Also 9
months of lupron.

PSA went to below .1 almost immediately (by Feb 1, 2000).

RRP in July 1999, PCA barely detectable in pathology of prostate. PSA
undetectable Oct 1999, Jan 2000, Apr 2003.

PSA started creeping up in July 2000

Started casodex 150 mg per day in Sept, also 38 treatments of external
radiation in March-April 2001. Decided to try external radiation as there
was a chance, perhaps slight, that PCa was confined to the prostate bed or
near the margins.

Stopped casodex in September 2001. Side effects included weight gain,
fatigue, some headaches.

PSA undetectable until June 2002.

3 month lupron + daily 50 mg casodex started in September 2002.
PSA undetectable Dec 2002, Feb 2003, May 2003, and Sep 2003.

Lots of fatigue, headaches starting after 3 months of being on Lupron +
casodex...
Put on about 15 lbs.  This was a more difficult protocol for me than 150 mg
of daily casodex.

Earlier this month I decided with oncologist to go off treatment, hopefully
for a year to recover from effects of lupron and casodes.  Hope to lose some
weight, get back in shape before the next bout.  Also looking forward to
some travel this winter.  After a month off treatment, I am sleeping better,
a lot fewer headaches...but now need to work on the extra weight.

I had three or four bone density test while on Casodex.  There was no
discernable bone loss.  I am having another bone density test to see what
impact Lupron might have made on my bones. Generally, bone loss is an issue
with Lupron.

Robert