What to expect from Lupron treatment
The Brand name of Leuprorelin / Leuprolide acetate. This hormone therapy is generally used by doctors in combination with other drugs to treat Prostate Cancer.
Leuprorelin/ Leuprolide acetate comes under the category of LHRH (short for Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone) agonists. Lupron helps to blocks LHRH production in our body, which in turn lead to less production of testosterone by the testicles.
It is one of the hormone therapies recommended by Physicians and Doctors for treating prostate cancer.
Leuprorelin / Leuprolide cost information
Lupron treatment for prostate cancer
Leuprorelin / Leuprolide acetate works by getting a small implant injection of Lupron under the skin. This therapy reduces the level of testosterone level in the human body by blocking LHRH production.
With the reduction of testosterone level will in turn lead to slow progression of prostate cancer as testosterone levels are directly linked to growth of cancer cells i.e. higher the testosterone level, higher would be the growth of cancer cells and vice-versa.
This type of medication is usually prescribed by Doctors in case when prostate cancer keeps on returning or to people who are at later-stage of prostate cancer.
It is recommended by American Cancer Society that observing and waiting is the best option for people suffer prostate cancer but are at a early stage. But there are some doctors who prescribe this therapy in the early stages of prostate cancer.
Effectiveness of Leuprorelin / Leuprolide acetate
Hormone therapies like Lupron are more effective when they are combined with other treatments. But there is one downside of using this therapy is it can become resistant to LHRH over time in some cases.
According to the American Cancer Society , this therapy is prescribed Doctors in case when -
• Regrowth of cancer cells even after surgery of radiation therapy.
• There is no hope that cancer can be cured by radiation therapy or surgery because the cancer cells have spread too far.
• To people who can't have a surgery or even radiation therapy.
• There is shrink of cancer cells before starting on radiation therapy.
• There is high chance of cancer returning even after radiation therapy.
What to expect during treatment?
Physicians or doctors administer Lupron as a depot, which is implanted under the patient's skin. The patients can choose which among the following should be where the leuprolide acetate injection is administered -
• buttocks
• outer thighs
• upper arms
And the treatment will depend differently based on individuals' circumstances.
Some general dosage of lupron injection ivf may be:
• 7.5 mg — once every 4 weeks
• 22.5 mg — once every 12 weeks
• 30 mg — once every 16 weeks
• 45 mg — once every 24 weeks
With the first shot of Lupron, individual's testosterone may flare up. And in the course of the treatment, there may some side effects due to low testosterone in the body. And when the treatment is done, the testosterone level returns to normal level.
The symptoms of a testosterone flare may be:
• Pain in the Bone
• Ureters can get blocked.
• Compression of spinal cord
• Nerve symptoms may get worsened
• Problems in Urination
In order to prevent a testosterone flare, doctors prescribe anti-androgen drug within the first few weeks of treatment.
Leuprolide Side effects
Some possible side effects from Leuprolide may be:
• fatigue
• muscle mass is reduced
• hot flashes
• Irritation at the site of injection
• Testicles and penis can shrink
• Loss of sex drive or erectile dysfunction
• changes in blood lipids
• depression
• osteoporosis
• mood swings
• breast tenderness
• Anaemia
• Gain of weight
• the growth of breast tissue
Individual should disclose all the side effects to his prescribing physician, so that required measure can be taken in case the symptoms are severe.
Leuprolide acetate cost information
Outlook
As prostate cancer progresses very slowly, therefore the survival rates for people suffering Prostate cancer are generally high.
According to the American Cancer Society, the 5-year relative survival rate for individuals suffering from prostate cancer is 98 percent. That means there is 98% chance that individuals will live for at least 5 years more after the prostate cancer is diagnosed.
But the above percentage is very relative, the actual chances are different for each individual. For a person, whose cancer has only spread to near by lymph nodes or not beyond prostate, the above 5 year survival rate increases to nearly 100%.
But when the cancer cells have spread too far in the body like in liver, lungs etc. then this rate falls drastically to 30%.
The above facts and figures were estimated from the diagnosis done between 2008 to 2014.
Leuprorelin cost information
The information provided on the page is meant for the purpose of being helpful and educational. It should not be considered as medical advice.
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