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How Long Does Zoladex Work For Prostate Cancer

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Will I Have Fewer Side Effects With The 36

How do GnRH analogues work? Zoladex, Prostap and other GnRH analogues

Its unlikely. Both strengths of Zoladex seem to cause similar side effects.

A study compared the safety and effectiveness of the drug for advanced breast cancer in females* who hadnt gone through menopause. The results showed that the effects of the drug were the same, whether it was given as a monthly 3.6-milligram implant or as a 10.8-mg implant every 3 months.

If you have questions about side effects due to Zoladex dosage, talk with your doctor.

* In this article, we use the term female to refer to someones sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.

How Is Zoladex Given

The Zoladex implant is injected under the skin of the abdomen, from where it steadily releases goserelin into the bloodstream over a four week period.

  • For prostate cancer, one Zoladex implant is injected once every 28 days. Alternatively one Zoladex LA implant may be injected once every 12 weeks.
  • For breast cancer, one Zoladex implant is injected once every 28 days.
  • For endometriosis, one Zoladex implant is injected once every 28 days for six months only. This course should not be repeated.
  • To thin the womb lining, you may be given one or two Zoladex injections. The second injection may be given if you have a large uterus, or to allow flexible timing of the surgery.
  • For fibroids, one Zoladex implant is injected once every 28 days for up to three months before surgery.
  • In fertility treatment, one Zoladex implant is injected to desensitise the pituitary gland and stop the natural production of FSH and LH. This takes between one to three weeks. Synthetic FSH, LH and hCG are then administered to artificially stimulate ovulation.

What Is In This Leaflet

This leaflet answers some of the common questions people ask about ZOLADEX 10.8mg implant. It does not contain all the information that is known about ZOLADEX 10.8mg.

It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor will have weighed the risks of you taking ZOLADEX 10.8mg against the benefits they expect it will have for you.

If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep this leaflet with the medicine.

You may need to read it again.

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What Other Information Should I Know

Keep all appointments with your doctor.

Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about goserelin implant.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

What Does Rising Psa Mean

Zoladex 3.6mg

When the PSA is rising or cancer spreading despite a low level of testosterone, prostate cancer is called castration-resistant, or hormone-refractory. Despite this name, some hormonal therapies may still work. But prostate cancer in this setting will inevitably progress and become more aggressive and resistant, and you should be prepared to discuss more aggressive treatment strategies with your doctor. This is the time when a medical oncologist, if not already involved in your care, gets involved. These doctors specialize in systemic treatments for prostate cancer, which is useful at this time given that your disease is typically systemic, meaning that it is not confined to only one location. Cancer cells in this situation have typically spread through the blood stream or lymphatics to other places in the body, and localized treatments are rarely helpful except in circumstances where urination becomes difficult. You should talk to your doctor about these systemic therapies, when to start chemotherapy, and clinical trials that may be available.

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Whats The Typical Dosage

Hormone therapy can be used alone or in combination with other therapies. It may also be used before or after other therapies.

Lupron is administered by injection. The dosage will vary according to your particular situation. Here are some typical dosage options your doctor may prescribe:

  • 1 mg once per day, varying the injection site
  • 7.5 mg every 4 weeks
  • 22.5 mg every 12 weeks
  • 30 mg every 16 weeks
  • 45 mg every 24 weeks

If you stop taking Lupron, youll start producing testosterone again.

You will experience some changes when your hormone levels fluctuate or have a substantial drop. Its a good idea to talk about this in advance so youre not caught off guard.

Consider asking some of these questions when you consult with your doctor:

  • Why do you recommend treatment with Lupron?
  • How often will I have to take the drug?
  • Will I administer it myself or will I need to come in to the clinic?
  • How often will we test to see if its working?
  • How long will I have to take it?
  • What should I do if I miss a dose or if I stop taking it?
  • What are the potential side effects, and can we do anything about them?
  • Are there any other medications, supplements, or foods I should avoid while taking Lupron?
  • If it doesnt work, what are the next steps?

According to the American Cancer Society, the relative five-year survival rates for men with prostate cancer, compared to men without the disease, are:

Your doctor can give you an idea what to expect from your treatment with Lupron.

Exact Answer: After 2 To 3 Weeks

The treatment during breast cancer or prostate cancer is termed as something difficult and serious, then the other treatments. During these treatments, some medications are used which can create an adverse effect on the other sex hormones and also the natural sexual activities, in the women. Among all those medications, Zoladex is one of them, which is firmly used to suppress the production of sexual hormones during this treatment.

The actual medicine present within the Zoladex is the Goserelin, which is sold and marketed under the brand name Zoladex. And, it is totally normal to have a pause or fluctuation in the menstrual cycle during this medication. But it can all come into a normal stage after almost 2 to 3 weeks after the first injection.

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Heres What The Results Showed

After a median follow-up of just over 10 years, 9.7% of men who were treated with radiation and leuporelin for 18 months had died from prostate cancer, compared to 13.3% of the men treated with radiation and leuporelin for six months. Adding zoledronic acid made no difference in either case.

The authors concluded that hormonal therapy is more effective at preventing prostate cancer death when its given for 18 months rather than six. And similar benefits were noted for other endpoints as well. For instance, prostate tumors were less likely to metastasize, or spread, among men in the longer duration treatment group, and it took longer for their cancers to become resistant to hormone therapy if it was reinitiated later.

In earlier clinical research, scientists discovered that hormonal therapy given for three years protects against prostate cancer death more effectively than a six-month treatment regimen. But three years of hormone therapy isnt easily tolerated, and evidence so far shows that 10-year survival rates after either 18 months or three years of hormonal therapy are similar, the authors of the new study claim.

Can I Have Radiation First And Then Surgery

Hormone Therapy Basics | Ask a Prostate Cancer Expert, Mark Scholz, MD

With 3D conformal radiotherapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy , and brachytherapy, local tissue damage is often kept at a minimum, and surgeons at some of the larger cancer centers have been seeing improved results with salvage prostatectomy performed after radiation. But even under the best of circumstances, post-radiation surgery is a very difficult operation to perform, and few surgeons across the country perform it regularly.

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How Is Hormone Therapy Used To Treat Hormone

Hormone therapy may be used in several ways to treat hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, including:

Early-stage prostate cancer with an intermediate or high risk of recurrence. Men with early-stage prostate cancer that has an intermediate or high risk of recurrence often receive hormone therapy before, during, and/or after radiation therapy, or after prostatectomy . Factors that are used to determine the risk of prostate cancer recurrence include the grade of the tumor , the extent to which the tumor has spread into surrounding tissue, and whether tumor cells are found in nearby lymph nodes during surgery.

The use of hormone therapy before prostatectomy has not been shown to be of benefit and is not a standard treatment. More intensive androgen blockade prior to prostatectomy is being studied in clinical trials.

Relapsed/recurrent prostate cancer. Hormone therapy used alone is the standard treatment for men who have a prostate cancer recurrence as documented by CT, MRI, or bone scan after treatment with radiation therapy or prostatectomy.

Hormone therapy is sometimes recommended for men who have a “biochemical” recurrencea rise in prostate-specific antigen level following primary local treatment with surgery or radiationespecially if the PSA level doubles in fewer than 3 months.

Before You Start To Use It

You must tell your doctor if:

  • you have allergies to any ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet or any other substancesIf you have an allergic reaction, you may get a rash, hay fever, difficulty breathing or feel faint.
  • you have heart or blood vessel conditions, including heart rhythm problems , or are being treated with medicines for these conditions.The risk of you having further heart rhythm problems may increase if you are taking ZOLADEX.

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Why Does My Doctor Have To Give Me Firmagon Cant I Give Myself The Injections

Firmagon is only available as an injection to be given by your doctor or other healthcare professional at your doctors office.

When drugs are reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration for safety and effectiveness, theyre also evaluated on how easy it is to take them correctly. Firmagon powder comes in a vial that needs to be carefully mixed with sterile water for injection. Because of this, the FDA approved the product to only be given by a healthcare professional.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about how Firmagon is given.

Why Do Periods Return So Long After Zoladex

Zoladex 10.8mg

It is mostly seen that people recover a little late after taking the Zoladex to their normal life. As it is a type of chemotherapy and is used for the treatment of breast and ovary cancers, it is too powerful too. It all depends on how immunized one is and how great he or she can handle the high doses of the medicine. The GnRH agonists are those types of hormones that come as a blockage for ovulation. It is simply that, when a mature egg gets released from the ovary and is ready to get fertilized, the ovulation takes place. But with the GnRH of the Zoladex, blocks this track and further, no ovulation takes place.

So it can be concluded that Zoladex is like a temporary shutdown for the ovaries. This further carries out that one cannot become pregnant while taking the doses of this medication. As most women fail to get their periods on time due to this, hence it is unlikely that one can get pregnant.

All these are regarded as the side effects of the medication and this creates a lot of complications. It is mostly seen after almost a couple of hours of the medication that these problems occur. One may also face some serious problems which include the pituitary gland and rarely do these come out as some serious problems. It is to be strictly noted that, once you start consuming the Zoladex, its effects are totally non-negotiable. You cant reverse the effects but if you stop using the medicine the periods are going to take a step forward again after 3 to 4 weeks.

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How The Study Was Performed

During the study, scientists randomized 1,071 men with intermediate- or high-risk localized prostate cancer into four groups. One group received radiation and six months of an anti-testosterone drug called leuporelin, and the second group received radiation plus 18 months of leuporelin therapy. Two other groups were treated with the same regimens of either radiation plus six or 18 months of leuporelin therapy, along with another drug called zoledronic acid, which helps to limit skeletal pain and related complications should cancer spread to the bones. Study enrollment occurred between 2003 and 2007 at 23 treatment centers across New Zealand and Australia.

Can I Take Other Medicines While I’m Having Zoladex Injections

It’s important to tell your doctor or pharmacist if you’re already taking any medicines, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with Zoladex.

You may be more likely to experience an abnormal heart rhythm if Zoladex is used alongside other medicines that can cause this problem. These include the following:

  • medicines to treat abnormal heart rhythms , eg amiodarone, procainamide, quinidine, disopyramide, dronedarone
  • certain antidepressants, eg maprotiline, amitriptyline, clomipramine, citalopram
  • the antihistamines astemizole,terfenadine or mizolastine
  • certain antimalarials, eg halofantrine, chloroquine, quinine, Riamet, mefloquine
  • certain antimicrobials, eg erythromycin given by injection, telithromycin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, voriconazole or pentamidine
  • certain antipsychotics, eg amisulpride, thioridazine, chlorpromazine, sertindole, haloperidol, pimozide, zuclopenthixol, sulpiride
  • arsenic trioxide
  • ranolazine
  • tolterodine.

The Zoladex implant is not known to specifically affect other medicines, and it’s fine to take over-the-counter painkillers like paracetamol, ibuprofen or naproxen while you’re having the injections . However, it’s always a good idea to check with your pharmacist before using other medicines while you’re being treated with Zoladex, to make sure the combination is safe.

23.10.2017

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How Are Hormone Therapies For Prostate Cancer Administered

LHRH agonists, the most commonly used drug class for hormone therapy, are given in the form of regular shots: once a month, once every three months, once every four or six months, or once per year. These long-acting drugs are injected under the skin and release the drug slowly over time. There are newer agents called LHRH antagonists that also lower testosterone and may be used.

Are Zoladex Injections Painful

When is Prostate Cancer Treated with Hormone Therapy?

For some people, a Zoladex injection can be painful. In clinical studies, about 3% of people who received Zoladex reported an injection site reaction, such as pain.

One study showed that icing the injection area before receiving the implant reduced pain for more than 68% of people.

If youre concerned about pain while receiving your Zoladex injection, talk with your doctor. They may be able to suggest how you can be more comfortable.

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Hormone Therapy For Prostate Cancer

Jump to a section

Hormone therapy is also called androgen suppression therapy. The goal is to reduce levels of male hormones, called androgens, in the body, or to stop them from fueling prostate cancer cells.

Androgens stimulate prostate cancer cells to grow. The main androgens in the body are testosterone and dihydrotestosterone . Most androgen is made by the testicles, but the adrenal glands as well as the prostate cancer itself, can also make a fair amount. Lowering androgen levels or stopping them from getting into prostate cancer cells often makes prostate cancers shrink or grow more slowly for a time. But hormone therapy alone does not cure prostate cancer.

Approved Uses For Zoladex

  • ZOLADEX is approved by the FDA for use in combination with another drug, flutamide, for the management of Stage T2b-T4 prostate cancer. Treatment with ZOLADEX and flutamide should start 8 weeks before the start of radiation therapy and continue during radiation therapy.
  • ZOLADEX is also approved by the FDA to lessen or relieve symptoms in patients with advanced prostate cancer.
  • ZOLADEX is approved by the FDA to lessen or relieve symptoms of HR+ advanced breast cancer in premenopausal and perimenopausal women. Estrogen and progesterone receptor values may help predict whether ZOLADEX therapy is likely to be beneficial.
  • ZOLADEX is indicated for the management of endometriosis, including pain relief and reducing endometrial lesions, for 6 months of therapy.
  • ZOLADEX is also approved to thin the lining of the uterus before a procedure that destroys this lining , which helps with extreme uterine bleeding.

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Will I Have Side Effects If I Stop My Zoladex Treatment

Its possible. Zoladex is an implant that a healthcare professional inserts under your skin. Its designed to dissolve over time, and your doctor will explain your implant schedule to you.

If you develop a rare but serious allergic reaction or side effect, your doctor will likely remove the implant. Removal of the implant may cause temporary pain around the implant site.

If your reaction isnt severe, your doctor may let the Zoladex implant dissolve on its own. It dissolves around 4 weeks after insertion, but its effects last up to 12 weeks in your system. During this time, you may notice changes as your hormone production increases to your natural level.

When stopping Zoladex, the effects that result can vary, depending on why you were using Zoladex.

If you have prostate cancer, stopping Zoladex could worsen symptoms of your condition.

If youre a female* who hasnt gone through menopause, its likely that your period will stop during Zoladex treatment. When you end Zoladex treatment, your period should return within 12 weeks.

If you have questions about ending your treatment with Zoladex, talk with your doctor.

* In this article, we use the term female to refer to someones sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.

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