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Side Effects of Firmagon

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Prostate Cancer
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Posted 11/22/2016 5:03 PM (GMT -5)
I had my second Firmagon shot last week in preparation for Cyberknife. A very remarkable side effect is that my testicles have reduced in size significantly. Firmagon side effect site mentions reduction in testicle size as uncommon. How long the decrease in size can go on? What happens after HT stops a few months after Cyberknife?
Posted 11/22/2016 7:50 PM (GMT -5)
I think we very recently had this discussion.

Not sure about how typical, but shrinkage to half or less is common. Whatever cells fill them out to firmness seem to shut down, so they shrink because they're sort of empty. Mine stopped after about 3 months, but they became 1/2 to 1/3 their original size, and very soft. Testosterone is recovering now after the end of 3 years of HT, but size hasn't. They've filled out again, but haven't gotten noticeably bigger. Maybe won't. Oh well, just more joy from HT...

This is quite uncomfortable to discuss, honestly. But it's real, and this is one of the purposes of this forum. I mean, my goodness, where else could one ask such a question?
Posted 11/22/2016 8:13 PM (GMT -5)
HT gives you the libido of an 10-year-old. It also gives you testicles the same size as when you were 10. Size wise mine have more or less come back after stopping. (That said, my testosterone which had a shaky but upward trajectory is going back down again, so I'm not fully sure that they're working all that well.)
Posted 11/22/2016 9:29 PM (GMT -5)
If your cancer has metastasized, you will in all likelihood be on ADT the rest of your life.. Gleason 6 seldom metastasizes..So perhaps your biopsy missed a higher grade tumor hiding somewhere..This happens about 30% of the time...

In any case you should sit down with your Oncologist and go over your prognosis in detail...The side effects of the ADT drugs could suddenly become a minor issue..

Best of luck to you...
Posted 11/23/2016 6:56 AM (GMT -5)
When I was a child in the 1950's, nobody talked about spouse abuse or child abuse. I would show up at school covered with bruises and scabs, would willingly tell any interested adult that my parents had beat the crap out of me if they asked. They would then shut up, turn their back and walk away. That has all changed now.

Same with this male stuff - it is time to talk about it out in the open so we can more easily deal with it. My male stuff all shrunk up and got sucked up into my body cavity after a couple of years on Pituitary Deprivation Therapy. Sometimes it was/is difficult to get my unit out so I can pee, due to the RP. As my testosterone has come back up, my testicles have got closer to their original size and I once again have a scrotum.

There are many other side effects of shutting down your pituitary gland though.....
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