Has anyone experienced brain fog and insomnia with prostate cancer treatment?

These symptoms you're describing are commonly reported by others in the prostate cancer community who are on similar hormone therapy treatments. The combination of medications you're taking can indeed affect sleep patterns and cognitive function, so you're not alone in experiencing these challenges. Many community members have found it helpful to discuss these side effects with their healthcare team, as there are sometimes strategies or adjustments that can provide relief.

I completely agree - those side effects are so common with hormone therapy, and it might also be worth asking your team about the timing of when you take your medications since some folks find that adjusting when they take prednisone can help with sleep.

Thank you Thomas

I had Stage 4a cancer high risk, aggressive, Gleason 9, prostate cancer diagnosed with possible around December 2021 and confirmed somewhere between Jan-March 2022 I ended up being lucky that it had only spread to 3-4 lymph nodes and the seminal tube. It was confirmed via a PET scan, so I cancelled the robotic surgery I was to have and went the radiation and hormone route (Stampede trials like), albeit they put me on 1 Abiraterone a day, rather than the 4 a day, albeit, mine was to be taken "with" food compared to the 4 without. They were also using that logic based on some other study, albeit not a large study. Further luck spared me from a lot of hot flashes as I had only experienced a couple/few. I had 25 radiation treatments and the exact same drugs as you. I initially thought the bad fatigue was from me caring previously for my wife for 3 1/2 years then caring for my mother for 3 1/2 years (with one year caring for both at the same time) & then because my diagnosis added to it, so I just thought I had given up, but in hindsight, the fatigue may have been part of that, but most likely the meds and treatment as well. I neglected myself and my home and it showed. I also had brain fog & memory problems. I am in a better place now. I have also had come back from the brain fog and from the fatigue because my Primary Doctor gave me a little pick me a me, which brought me back to who I was before all of this, including my memory, executive decision making skills and less prone to mistakes. He knew me for decades and had watched my decline and my actions and words. While it is a med you might give someone else with a different medical condition and/or diagnosis, it has helped me tremendously. I am reluctant, at this given moment, to disclose it, as I continue to get a full handle of this app and purposes, so excuse my hesitancy to disclose it.

Thank you Cal

Brain fog and insomnia resulted for me as my testosterone and especially my estrogen levels steeply declined during my ADT treatment plan that continues today. Nothing like driving away from home and suddenly panicking when you realize that you forget where you were going and why.

Thanks, Ed

I’m sure you know that Abiraterone acetate (Zytiga in my case) has its own set of side effects for me (side effects are patient specific) including amplifying existing ADT side effects (e.g., hot flashes) while also increasing joint and bone pain, and a potential for fractures and/or osteoporosis. The steroid as you know is to combat potential issues like liver damage. I’ve had castration sensitive prostate cancer for nearly 5 years, prostate cancer for 15.

Thank you, Ed. I appreciate your kind insight and wish you all the best. I am taking he Reclast infusion to combat osteopenia, along with weight bearings walks and gym machines 3-4 times B per week.

Be well and stay strong Kirk