zoladex withdrawal

[BrambleJake]

Hi,

My father is currently on zoladex, and has been asked by his doctor if he would like to stop receiving the medication to enable them to monitor the PSA level. He has undergone the radiotherapy 2 years ago.

We are just looking for some advice on the risks of coming off the medication as the cancer that he has is aggressive (8).

We are trying to find out:

1 - What are the main dangers in coming off the drug, if the PSA level were to increase?
2 - In your opinion would it be be better to stay on the drug or take the risks associated with the withdrawal?
3 - If he does decide to come off the drug and the PSA level rises what options are then open for him?

Many thanks for your help.

Kind regards Lee

[enyl]

    May I butt in and ask how long ago did you have radiation and what were the side effects (am particularly concerned with incontinence and impotence) and did you have to take medication afterwards like forever ?  I have been diagnosed with prostate cancer in March and am considering radiation treatment for various reasons, see my separate post above, " How should I choose which treatment ?   by enyl, Apr 21, 2010 11:30AM ", so would appreciate any advice you can give, thanks.
PS: you can post your answer here or better still to post it under my thread above.

[Lallan]

I am under Hormone Therapy right now, i.e One tab daily + Eliguard Injection (Equivalent to Zoladex). Usual course for Hormone Therapy is only 2 years. After that it becomes ineffective.Have you monitored the PSA during therapy? Hormone therapy is just an evasive procedure to slow down the cancer so that other methods have time to act. Your other questions can only be answered by your doctor.

I am 64 and went through radiation for my prostate cancer (Gllison Score 8). After radiation PSA is 0.02 before it was 29.94

Lallan