Advanced prostate cancer

Iam 61 years old and In Dec 18 I had  PSA of 4.7 and then confirmed as having prostate cancer which was then changed to Advanced prostate cancer ( ie stage 4) as a bone scan showed a small spot on cancer in a rib . 
Following this I was given chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy which finished in Sept 19. Currently i am having a  3 monthly Zoladex injections which apparently I will have for life !

At the moment I have regular PSA tests which are showing results of less than 0.1, which is good

My main problem at the moment is that the Zoladex has some very unpleasant side effects eg muscle pains( especially lower back), joint aches, pains and needles , fatigue , sleep issues . When I wake in the morning it takes me ages to get up and about as I feel like a very old man. I also get very tired very quickly if I do any kind of physical activity, despite it now being over eight months since any treatment I don't seem to be getting fitter. 

When mentioned to my oncologist , he wasn't really interested as he was mainly only concerned about whether my cancer had spread and my PSA level. He wasn't really interested in the side effects and general well being .

My question is , are these side effects normal and do they ever start to wear off ? If not what do others do to help counter the side effects ?
At the moment I play golf twice a week ( pre lockdown), go walking and cycling etc ,so it's fair to say that I am trying to keep active but by mid pm I am completely shattered and stop.

Any help or advice would be gratefully received 

  • I'm bit different to you, diagnosed Feb 2016 prostate gone to lymph nodes, spine, ribs, pelvis and a lung stage 4 psa 1581. Went on hormone therapy (decapeptyl) and had chemo( docetaxel) psa last year went down to 0.03 been rising slowly since last test 3.9.

    Side effects on therapy weight gain and hot flushes.. 

    Hope things keep going well, apart from your side effects. Best wishes..... Billy 

  • I’m 65 and was diagnosed with prostate cancer last June which has come out into a lymph node. My PSA was 19 when I was first diagnosed but on my last chemo 2 months ago it was down to 0.76.

     I started Zoladex injections in October last year and had my 3rd injection last week. I too suffer your symptoms plus I am very breathless at times. My breathlessness started last November after my second injection. I find it hard to go upstirs and get changed then come back down again. One thing that gets me is the numbness in my feet and toes, which usually wakes me up at night!
     
    I had a CT scan last week and see my oncologist next week to discuss what ever they have, or have not found. My oncologist is wonderful! She said to me and my wife there are no stupid questions when you have cancer and answers everything we ask.

    Keep Strong Badger

  • Hi Sonofjoe

    thanks for reply , it's comforting to know that my symptoms are not unique to me .

    unfortunately my oncologist is not so sympathetic 

    good luck with next weeks scan 

    Stay strong and safe