Of course go off the meds.  Both my medical oncologists believe in
intermittent ADT.  Just have regular PSA checks, and if it goes up
(and we all certainly hope not), go back on the meds.

-Gordy

Hi Bob,
Several studies support the use of intermittent ADT versus continuous
because of similar survival results with better quality of life. Read
about a recent one:
http://tinyurl.com/3e3dyv

Wish you the very best outcome,

RalphV
www.pcainaz.org/phpbb

For what it may be worth, Bob, I recently stopped taking Casodex after
nine months because I was not willing to accept the side effects.  I
was taking Casodex, alone.  The first PSA test after going off Casodex
indicates my PSA is rising.  Another PSA is scheduled for later this
month.  Based on the results of that test, I may try some intermittent
schedule.  Whether intermittent is as effective as constant treatment
isn't the deciding factor for me.  I just won't trade off that much
quality of life to make my life possibly longer.

It's yet another difficult choice some of us get to make in deciding
how to treat PCa.  I have to keep reminding myself that having a
choice is better than not having a choice at all.

Best wishes,

Burney

Burney dot Huff at Mindspring dot com

Bob, my husband (Ron) was on Zoladex and Casodex for 15 months and the
side effects were totally draining.  He could hardly walk 50 feet.  The
medical oncologist in this City said "you know he can NEVER come off the
HT, don't you"??  After a futile argument, I fired him.

Went back to Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto and Dr. Loblaw immediately
took him off all meds.  His PSA had been 0.02 for over a year.  It took
about 7 months (after the last Zoladex shot wore off) to get his
muscular strength back....most of it anyway.

He feels absolutely GREAT and while his PSA is creeping up from 0.02, it
is still low.  In August (18 months after stopping HT), it was 0.19.
Dr. L. says that is where it would normally be after any sort of
radiation, but if it gets up over 4, he will put him back on HT

I was a bit upset at the 0.19 until my daughter and my two best buds on
here put it into perspective.  I just had to get on top of it and look
at it from the positive side.  And I swore I would never worry.....HAH!!
It goes with the territory as my mother would have said!!

HTH, and by all means go off the HT and just keep an eye on your PSA.
We get it checked every 6 months.

All the best......Ron and Heather

(snip)

Here is a thorough review of intermittent ADT:

http://www.prostate-cancer.org/education/andeprv/Strum_IADT.html

Please note that, according to this standard, it would be imprudent to
suspend ADT unless monthly test results are no more than <0.05 ng/mL for
at least one year. This requires "ultrasensitive" tests. Results of
"<0.1" are equivocal at best.

During the "off" period, which can be years, it is necessary to watch
PSA closely so as to detect any rises. Again, using the ultrasensitive
protocol. If PSA rises to an unacceptable level, ADT can be restarted.
What is acceptable is a matter of individual choice; there is no set
standard.

Regards,

Steve J

"We must tailor the treatment to the nature of the disease. We must
listen to the biology."
-- Stephen B. Strum, MD