recommend you hit the Prostate Cancer websites or Google for "lupron".
The only new thing is the connection to high blood sugar and
Triglycerides.  I've been moaning about this for a year and there are
now some studies that report, yes this is a problem.

Hope you got a full blood chemistry, including Testosterone, before
they gave you that shot.  If not, ask your doc for your old records.
You should monitor your chemistry to verify that nothing odd is
happening.

I had almost all the symptoms, including hair regrowth but not the boob
development.

One weird side effect, in the first few weeks to month, the Lupron
might spike your testosterone and you'll find yourself erect and ready
for action.  If that happens, MAKE THE MOST OF IT!!!!

A fellow wrote to me saying that long term prospects weren't looking to
great.  That's why, if you get the Testosterone Flare from Lupron,
don't hold back wondering about it, do it until the neighbors complain
about all the noise and the bedpost knocks a hole in the wall.

-kh

The uro is a surgeon. When he performed the RRP, he did what he's
trained to do. This looks like recurrence, and I recommend consulting a
medical oncologist, preferably one who is well-experienced in tx of PCa.

Intermittent ADT is best done after at least a year of undetectable
PSAs, defined as =/<0.05 ng/mL.

Here's what I've previously written about hot flushes (it's a shame that
the uro apparently is ignorant of the side effects (SEs) of ADT androgen
deprivation therapy):

"There are txs for hot flushes, and they seem not to be well-known among
some inattentive medics. I'll not speculate on the reason. You may
admire my restraint.

They are:

1. Megace (megestrol acetate): some concern has been expressed by one
medic that it might encourage PCa development where the tumor has
mutated. Unfortunately, there appears to be no way to be certain whether
this has occurred. Nonetheless, I do know that it is used successfully
to relieve hot flushes.

2. Paxil (paroxetine hydrochloride), an antidepressant. A side effect is
to relieve hot flushes.

3. Effexor (venlafaxine hydrochloride), an antidepressant. Same story.

4. Depo Provera (medroxyprogesterone, a synthetic form of the female
hormone progesterone), the "label" use of which is as a female
contraceptive. In the 400 mg (contraceptive) dosage, a study (Marx et
al.) has demonstrated excellent results in relief of hot flushes among
men on ADT (androgen deprivation therapy).

I selected this tx to relieve my hot flushes (6 per night + days) from
Trelstar (triptorelin pamoate), which with Lupron and Zoladex is one of
the LHRH agonists used to castrate PCa patients chemically thereby
depriving PCa cells of an essential nutrient, testosterone (T).

In my case, I chose Depo Sub-Q Provera 104 mg, the "label" use of which
is palliative tx of endometriosis. In August 2005, I received 104 mg in
each anterior thigh. I have not experienced even one hot flush since
then. How long this will continue is anyone's guess.

However: one must be aware that progesterone is metabolized into
testosterone, and should take care that one's PSA is sufficiently low
that a rise in T will not be harmful. In my case, my PSA rose from 0.01
ng/ml to 0.02, then subsided to 0.01, which I feel is more than
satisfactory.

Caveat: what works for me may not work for anyone else in the universe!

In the USA, such use of these drugs is "off-label" which is to say not
approved by the US Federal Drug Administration. The practical effect of
this is that the use of the drugs for relief of hot flushes will not be
paid for by insurance carriers.

I
(1) am not sure of the dosages except for Depo Sub-Q Provera, and
(2) do not know the out-of-pocket costs of the off-label use, again with
the exception of Depo Sub-Q Provera (US$200 for two pre-loaded syringes
+ $25 for the injection at my medic's office).

I consider the cost to have been well worth the result.

Had a bit of fun with my medic and his staff after the injections.
Sighed and observed that from now on I would be unable to ovulate....."

I understand that certain estrogen txs are considered by some to be
effective, too.

Did the uro prescribe a brief course of Casodex in order to prevent a
flare of PCa and consequently PSA before starting the Lupron? He should
have.

Did he recommend a complete hormone blockade, Lupron + Proscar or
Avodart + Casodex?

Did the uro mention the inevitable loss of bone mineral density (BMD)
resulting from the use of ADT? And what to do about it?

I recommend reference to the authoritative website of the Prostate
Cancer Research Institute:
http://www.prostate-cancer.org/index.html
...and search on Androgen Deprivation Syndrome.

Also: a partial list of medical specialists can be found under Resources.

Attendance at a local UsToo! support group would likely prove to bee an
eye-opener. Local chapters can be found on their website:
http://www.ustoo.com/

Good luck.

Regards,

Steve J

"Flagrantly, we docs ignore the declaration of biology. We do this out
of ignorance, greed or both. The prime directive of the physician, the
real physician, is patient outcome, & not physician income (or ego)."
-- Stephen B. Strum, MD

Very, very common, widely known, and long documented. Your oncologist
should have warned you about them and ADT's (such as Lupron's) other
side effect menu before you began treatment, for several reasons, among
them:
1. Some may be frightening if not anticipated (how'd that first hot
flash grab ya?). Some men's hot flashes flood their bedding at night.
2. Some ADT side effects, such as gynaecomastia, warrant pre-treatment
before beginning ADT.
3. Others demand preventative co-treatment (e.g., osteoporosis, for
those who can tolerate its treatment).
4. Yet others warrant lifestyle changes for couch potatoes or FORCE it
upon athletes.

A great place to begin one's research on ADT such as Lupron is at
http://www.prostate-cancer.org/education/sidefx/Strum_ADS.html .

I.P.

Damn, Duffer!  When you last posed early in 2004, you were looking at a
possible cure (though the T3b didn't help).  Now this.  I'm sorry to hear of
it.

As to Lupron, I had hot flashes in 2003 when I first started on the stuff.
I got over it.  I sometimes wonder if I heat up during the night.  Sometimes
I wake up warm and slightly sweaty.  But, all in all, it has affected me as
much as others.

Switch over to Eligaard from Lupron. Hot flashes diminished tremendously.
Talk to your Doctor about it.

Gourd Dancer