Talk to me about Lupron

Axolotl

I'm seeing my MO on Saturday to begin hormonal therapy. Over the phone she mentioned Tamoxifen and Lupron. I know about Tamoxifen but I don't know much about Lupron aside that it is a shot given to induce menopause. How often is it given, and how long would I need to take it? Side effects? Is it common to be on both Tamoxifen and Lupron? (I'm 37, so I guess my age might have something to do with needing both?)

Cpeachymom

At 39 I am also on Tamoxifen plus Lupron. It is a shot to your backside once a month or it is offered as a 3 month depot shot. I chose monthly for peace of mind. Since I started both at the same time, I can’t tell the side effects apart, but the only real side effect I have is hot flashes, every thing else seems ok. Maybe they’re more intense than if I was just on Tamoxifen, but I wouldn’t know! It’s for the 5years you will be on Tamoxifen, if that’s your time frame. Between the two, they stopped my period dead in its tracks. My MO runs a blood test every other month to make sure all my hormone levels stay low. Not sure how long they’ll keep checking that. Overall, not too bad. Hope this helps!

fd1

I had Lupron during chemo in the hopes to preserve my fertility and then had a similar drug, Zoladex, once my period came back until a few months ago. They are giant needles and you need them administered by a nurse once a month. There are three-month depots but my onc would not allow me to take those as only the one-month has been studied in reference to BC.

You should ask your onc why not an AI with lupron/zoladex as there was a study recently published that showed this more effective than tamoxifen/zoladex.

I just finished my five years of hormonals and have stopped both the AI and zoladex in order to try to have a baby. I will continue with Tamoxifen for another five years after that. The main difference i notice after stopping is I have more energy and less depression. Everybody is different though!

Axolotl

I had my appointment and the MO is recommending Lucrin for ovarian suppression plus Aromasin.

I had my first shot of Lucrin yesterday. My MO said she feels comfortable with the 3-month shots so I will do that. Her argument was that although the studies used 1-month shots, if my hormone levels are brought down with the 3-month shots it will be more convenient since I won't have to visit her once a month for a shot.

I will start the AI in a few days after we get the oncotype results - if I have a high oncotype and need chemo, she wants me to hold off on taking the AI until afterwards.

So far I don't notice any side effects from the Lucrin but I imagine that might not happen immediately. She said it might take a few months for my periods to stop.

I hope this goes well! The way I see it, I'm willing to try it, but I'm worried about the potential side effects. She would like me to do ovarian suppression + Aromasin for 5 years.

Tresjoli2

I took Lupron with tamoxifen for two years. I hated it. It made me feel 100 years old. My feet hurt, migraines, my libido was gone, I gained weight. I went off the Lupron and all those symptoms went away. I had thought it was the tamoxifen but it was actually the Lupron. So just pay attention to your side effects...

Falconer

I had Lupron shots with an AI for a year. I'd actually gotten my period the day of my first Lupron shot and that's the last I've seen of it. Stopped dead in its tracks is a good way to describe it. Stock up on coconut oil if you're sexually active.
I switched MOs early in treatment so we stuck to this protocol for the year though he probably would have started with Tamoxifen alone. My body was so achy and my sex life so bleh that my MO suggested Tam. It's only been a month of no Lupron but I do not have the same joint pain I had.