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Diagnosed with a grade 5 gleason 9 stage 2b pc April 2010, had HDR Bracytherapy followed up with 23 sessions of EBRT and Zoladex from May 2010 for 15 months, 10 months later psa is .03 ug/l, testosterone is .7 nmol/L, some hypothyroidism, no erectile function, zero libido, see the Uro in July, can't help but wonder, what happens now? Will the testosterone return? will I ever be normal again, this has sadly had an impact on my marriage, I feel sad.
Hope you don't mind me asking. What was your Psa before start of treatment. I too am gleason 9 stage T3b, Been on Zoladex for over 4 years now. Urologist and Oncologist would not try anything else, after reading your story I think I may be a candidate for other treatment. My psa was 95 before Zoladex. I know what you mean about the effects on marriage. My wife and I had only been married for 3 years before treatment and it has Changed our marriage from a wonderful fulfilling, loving and passionate relationship to a loving companionship which is ok for me as i don't have any sexual needs any more. My wife struggles and has been on anti depressants for 3 years now. It's not easy and if there was some sort of "cure" where I could be free from Zoladex, although I know after being on Zoladex for over 4 years now there isn't much chance of ever being as I was before.
Warwick,
Yes, your testosterone will return. It will depend on if you had the 1-month or the 3-month injections. The 3-month seems to last longer; i.e. beyond a year. My testosterone was coming back 8 months later with 1-month injections and for only 6 months. Yours will take longer. On the positive side, the Zoladex did get your testosterone down really low for the treatment so you aren't suffering in vain.
