Living with Prostate Cancer on Abiraterone: Real Patient Experiences
Oct, 30 2025
When you’re told you have prostate cancer, the first thing you think about isn’t the drug names or clinical trials. It’s: What does this mean for my life now? For many men, abiraterone becomes part of the answer-but not the whole story. It’s not just a pill you swallow. It’s a shift in routines, relationships, and even how you see yourself.
What abiraterone actually does
Abiraterone isn’t chemotherapy. It doesn’t kill cancer cells directly. Instead, it stops your body from making testosterone-the fuel that most prostate cancers grow on. You take it as a tablet, usually once a day, on an empty stomach. No food for two hours before and one hour after. Sounds simple, right? But that timing becomes a rhythm you never forget.
Doctors prescribe it when the cancer has spread but still responds to hormone therapy. It’s not a cure, but it buys time. Studies show men on abiraterone live longer than those on older hormone treatments alone. In one large trial, men lived nearly 16 months longer on average. That’s not just a statistic-it’s another birthday, another family barbecue, another chance to see your grandkids grow.
Side effects you don’t hear enough about
Everyone talks about fatigue, joint pain, or high blood pressure. Those are real. But the quieter side effects? Those sneak up on you.
Some men notice their muscles feel weaker. Not from skipping the gym-just from the drug. One man in Brisbane, 68, told me he used to walk 10,000 steps a day. After six months on abiraterone, he could barely make it to the mailbox without stopping. He started doing seated leg lifts while watching TV. Small things. But they kept him moving.
Fluid retention is another hidden issue. Your ankles swell. Your shirt feels tight. You’re not gaining weight-you’re holding water. Your doctor might prescribe a water pill, but that means more trips to the bathroom. At night. And if you’re already waking up to pee because of prostate issues? Now it’s worse.
And then there’s the mood stuff. Some men get irritable. Others feel flat. No big crying spells, just… emptiness. One patient said, “I didn’t feel sad. I just didn’t feel like myself.” That’s harder to explain to your wife or your kids than a sore back.
Life on a strict schedule
Abiraterone doesn’t care if you’re at a wedding, on a road trip, or stuck in traffic. You have to take it on an empty stomach. That means planning meals around the pill. Breakfast? You skip it. Or you eat it at 8 a.m. and take the pill at 10 a.m. No coffee, no toast, no banana.
Travel becomes a puzzle. You pack extra pills. You check hotel minibars aren’t stocked with snacks. You carry a water bottle and a note from your doctor explaining why you can’t eat during a flight. One man told me he once missed a dose because his flight was delayed. He panicked. He called his oncologist at 2 a.m. The nurse told him: “Just take it when you land. Don’t eat for an hour.” He slept through the rest of the flight, terrified he’d messed up.
And don’t forget the cost. In Australia, abiraterone is subsidized under the PBS, but you still pay part of it. For some, that’s $30 a month. For others, it’s $200 if they’re not eligible. That’s not just money-it’s stress. One man skipped a dose for two days because he couldn’t afford the refill. He didn’t tell anyone.
Relationships change
Prostate cancer doesn’t just affect your body. It changes your home.
Sexual side effects are common. Low libido, erectile dysfunction. That’s expected. But what’s harder is when your partner doesn’t know how to talk about it. One couple told me they stopped cuddling because he felt “broken.” She didn’t know how to bring it up. They didn’t speak about it for six months.
Then there’s the silence. Men often don’t want to talk about cancer. “I don’t want to be a burden,” is a phrase you hear a lot. But that silence eats away at families. One father said his 12-year-old daughter started drawing pictures of him in a hospital bed. He didn’t know she thought he was dying. He finally sat her down and said, “I’m taking medicine to stay alive. I’m not going anywhere.” She hugged him and said, “Okay. But you have to tell me next time.”
What helps-more than the medicine
Abiraterone works. But what keeps men going? It’s not the drug. It’s the people.
Support groups. Not the clinical ones. The ones where men sit in a circle and say, “I couldn’t sleep last night because my back hurt,” and someone else says, “Same. I took a hot bath and it helped.” That’s the kind of advice you won’t find in a pamphlet.
Exercise-even small amounts-makes a difference. Walking. Stretching. Swimming. One man started doing tai chi in the park every morning. He didn’t do it for the cancer. He did it because he missed feeling strong. After three months, he said, “I don’t feel like a patient anymore. I feel like me.”
And nutrition? It’s not about fancy diets. It’s about avoiding processed food. Too much salt makes fluid retention worse. Too much sugar makes fatigue worse. One man switched from white bread to sourdough. He stopped drinking soda. He started eating eggs for breakfast. Simple. But he said it gave him back a sense of control.
When to speak up
Not every side effect is normal. If you’re dizzy, confused, or your urine turns dark, call your doctor. Those could be signs of liver issues. Abiraterone can stress your liver. Blood tests every few months catch it early.
And if you’re feeling hopeless? Say it. Depression isn’t weakness. It’s a side effect of the disease and the treatment. There are counselors who specialize in prostate cancer. They don’t just talk. They help you find ways to live again.
It’s not a battle. It’s a journey.
No one talks about this enough: You’re not fighting prostate cancer like a war. You’re learning to live with it. Some days are good. Some days, you just want to stay in bed. That’s okay.
Abiraterone gives you time. But how you use that time? That’s yours. Whether it’s fixing the car, planting tomatoes, or just sitting with your grandchild in silence-it matters. The drug keeps you alive. But your choices keep you living.
How long do people usually stay on abiraterone?
There’s no fixed timeline. Many men stay on abiraterone for years, as long as it keeps working and side effects are manageable. Doctors monitor prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels every few months. If PSA stays low, treatment continues. If cancer starts growing again, they may switch to another therapy. Some men take it for over five years.
Can I drink alcohol while taking abiraterone?
Small amounts-like one beer or a glass of wine-are usually okay. But alcohol can stress your liver, and abiraterone already does that. Heavy drinking increases the risk of liver damage. Your doctor will check your liver enzymes regularly. If levels rise, they’ll tell you to cut back or stop. Always check with your oncologist before drinking.
Does abiraterone cause weight gain?
Not directly. But fluid retention can make you feel heavier, especially in the ankles and belly. Some men also gain fat because they become less active due to fatigue. Muscle loss can happen too, which lowers your metabolism. The key is staying active and watching your salt intake. Weight gain isn’t inevitable-it’s manageable.
What happens if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose and remember within a few hours, take it right away-but only if you haven’t eaten. If it’s been more than a few hours, skip the missed dose. Don’t double up the next day. Missing one dose won’t ruin your treatment, but regularly skipping doses can make the cancer resistant. Set phone reminders. Keep spare pills in your bag or car.
Can I still work while taking abiraterone?
Yes, many men continue working full-time. Fatigue is the biggest challenge. Some adjust their hours, work from home on tough days, or take short breaks. One man worked as a mechanic and started scheduling his pill for 7 a.m., then took a 30-minute nap after lunch. He said it helped him get through the afternoon. Talk to your employer. Most are willing to help if they understand.
ridar aeen
October 31, 2025 AT 17:25My dad’s been on abiraterone for three years now. He doesn’t talk about it much, but I notice how he moves slower now, how he skips breakfast just to take that pill. He doesn’t complain, but I see him staring at his reflection in the mirror sometimes. I wish people talked more about the quiet parts-the loneliness, the fear that you’re just waiting for the next bad news. Not every battle is loud.
chantall meyer
October 31, 2025 AT 22:40Abiraterone is overrated. In my country, we use traditional herbs and fasting. No pharmaceuticals needed. This whole western medicine circus is just profit-driven. You’re being sold a lifestyle, not a cure.
Lorne Wellington
November 2, 2025 AT 01:30Man, this hit hard. 🙏 I’ve got a buddy on this med-he’s 71, retired mechanic, still fixes his old pickup every weekend. He told me, ‘I don’t care if I live to 80, I just want to be able to hold my granddaughter without my back screaming.’ That’s the real win. Small victories. Seated leg lifts. Sour dough bread. Water bottles in the car. These aren’t just tips-they’re acts of rebellion against the disease. Keep showing up, even when it’s ugly. You’re not broken. You’re adapting. And that’s badass.
Will RD
November 2, 2025 AT 13:23why do people make this so complicated just take the pill dont be a baby
Jacqueline Anwar
November 4, 2025 AT 12:28While I appreciate the anecdotal nature of this piece, the lack of clinical rigor is concerning. The assertion that abiraterone 'buys time' without referencing median overall survival curves or hazard ratios is misleading. Furthermore, the emphasis on emotional anecdotes over evidence-based management strategies risks fostering therapeutic nihilism. A more balanced approach would include data from the COU-AA-302 trial and reference to NCCN guidelines.
Ganesh Kamble
November 5, 2025 AT 12:47bro abiraterone is just a fancy placebo with a price tag. everyone knows chemo is the real deal. this is just big pharma keeping you docile with a pill and a pep talk. wake up.
Jenni Waugh
November 6, 2025 AT 00:06Let me just say this: if you’re not exercising, eating clean, and advocating for yourself while on abiraterone, you’re doing it wrong. This isn’t a free pass to become a couch potato. You’re still a warrior-even if you’re doing tai chi in a park at 6 a.m. in your pajamas. And yes, your wife needs to know you’re scared. Silence doesn’t protect anyone. Speak up. Fight back. With broccoli. With walks. With honesty.
Theresa Ordonda
November 6, 2025 AT 23:37fluid retention = soul-crushing. 😔 I watched my uncle go from hiking trails to needing a walker because his ankles looked like balloons. And the mood stuff? Yeah. It’s not depression. It’s erasure. Like your identity got swapped out for a patient ID. He stopped watching football. Stopped laughing. Just… faded. They gave him a pill for the swelling. But no one gave him a pill for the loneliness.
Judy Schumacher
November 8, 2025 AT 17:36This article is a textbook example of emotional manipulation disguised as patient advocacy. The anecdotal evidence is cherry-picked, the scientific context is absent, and the tone is deliberately sentimental to evoke pity rather than informed decision-making. One must question the editorial standards of this platform. Furthermore, the suggestion that 'life is about choices' ignores systemic barriers-like cost, access, and insurance disparities-that dictate survival outcomes far more than personal willpower.
Megan Raines
November 9, 2025 AT 12:26So… you take a pill on an empty stomach. And then you do tai chi. And eat sourdough. And carry a water bottle. And cry silently. And your wife doesn’t know how to hug you. And you miss doses because you can’t afford it. And you still go to work. And you don’t tell anyone you’re terrified. And you’re told this is ‘living’? Huh. Guess I just thought living meant not having to plan your life around a pill and a calendar.
Mamadou Seck
November 11, 2025 AT 01:54abiraterone is just another way to make men feel guilty for not being strong enough to beat cancer without drugs. why dont we just tell them to eat more kale and stop being weak
Anthony Griek
November 11, 2025 AT 13:26I’ve been on this for 4 years. The hardest part isn’t the side effects. It’s when people say, ‘You look great!’ and you know you’re lying to them. And they’re lying to you. We don’t talk about that. But we should. Just… quietly. Like we’re all doing.
Norman Rexford
November 11, 2025 AT 23:59you know what this country needs more of less abiraterone and more american pride. if you cant handle a pill you dont deserve to live. we had it worse in the 50s and we didnt whine