testosterone therapy and prostate cancer
Albert
In September of 2008 I posted here about being diagnosed with prostate
cancer. At that time it was decided that I would take a "watch, wait
and see" attitude which I've done. It has turned out to be good advice
as I have had no symptoms from the cancer. Taking biannual PSA's which
have not changed at all. Now at 75 last December my life has been well
worth living which brings me to my questions.
Somewhere I have read (I think) where testosterone is or could be a
factor in prostate cancer?
I'm thinking about having my testosterone levels checked for obvious
reasons (at least to me). If it proves out that the levels are low and
I take testosterone therapy would this affect the progression of the
cancer?
I'm going to get an appointment with my GP to have the levels checked
but I would like to have a little information up front if at all
possible before I see him.
Thank you,
Albert
Steve Kramer
news:fu4a16lcju7uaurhp...@4ax.com...
> Hi all, I'm back again,
Welcome Back, Albert!
> In September of 2008 I posted here about being diagnosed with prostate
> cancer. At that time it was decided that I would take a "watch, wait
> and see" attitude which I've done. It has turned out to be good advice
> as I have had no symptoms from the cancer. Taking biannual PSA's which
> have not changed at all. Now at 75 last December my life has been well
> worth living which brings me to my questions.
Your PSA is still in the single digits? It was 7.7 as I recall in 2008.
Do you take supplements? Other than that great New Mexican sun that is
coursing Vitamin D through your veins?
> Somewhere I have read (I think) where testosterone is or could be a
> factor in prostate cancer?
After initial treatment, and after salvation treatment if the initial
treatment fails, most oncologists look to androgen deprivation therapy to
keep the cancer down. The androgen (in a round about way) is testosterone.
PCa cells feed on testosterone. Theoretically, if you keep them starved,
they die or go dormant. That has been theoretically working for me for
seven years.
> I'm thinking about having my testosterone levels checked for obvious
> reasons (at least to me). If it proves out that the levels are low and
> I take testosterone therapy would this affect the progression of the
> cancer?
Some say it can actually cause PCa. Some say it will increase your PCa if
you have it. At least one suggests bombarding the cancer with heavy doese
of T will serve to kill it. That is a wide array of theories with which to
contend.
> I'm going to get an appointment with my GP to have the levels checked
> but I would like to have a little information up front if at all
> possible before I see him.
A GP can check your levels. But I don't think there is a GP in the whole
world that can give you an honest assessment of low T and high T with regard
to your cancer. I know a PCa patient who summers here in Cincinnati and
winters in New Mexico. He describes to me the lack of medical oncologists
in your state, or at least in his region. I don't know how close he is to
Albuquerque. But, that is really what you need.
--
skramer remarks
PSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46
Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c
RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins
PSA <.1 <.1 <.1 .27 .37 .75 PSAD 0.19 years
EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47
PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 PSAD 0.56 years
Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 and every 4 months there after
PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145 PSAD 1.40 years
Casodex added daily 07/06
PSA undetectable since. Next Assay 10/10/10
Illegitimati non carborundum
Albert
<skr...@cinci.rr.com> wrote:
>"Albert" <aml...@Hotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:fu4a16lcju7uaurhp...@4ax.com...
>
>> Hi all, I'm back again,
>
>Welcome Back, Albert!
Thank you, it's nice to be able to be back :-).
>Your PSA is still in the single digits? It was 7.7 as I recall in 2008.
Yes it is. It's a 3.8 with Finasteride 5 mg so when doubled its 7.7.
>Do you take supplements? Other than that great New Mexican sun that is
>coursing Vitamin D through your veins?
No, I do not take supplements. I did get off of dairy products and my
daily breakfast routine is Cheerios, walnuts, banana, blueberries with
Silk (soy milk) fortified with vitamin D and omega-3. I also take a 1
mL B12 shot once a week to supplement the depletion caused by
metformin that I take for type II diabetes. Of course the New Mexico
sun does help on vitamin D also.
>
>> Somewhere I have read (I think) where testosterone is or could be a
>> factor in prostate cancer?
>
>After initial treatment, and after salvation treatment if the initial
>treatment fails, most oncologists look to androgen deprivation therapy to
>keep the cancer down. The androgen (in a round about way) is testosterone.
>PCa cells feed on testosterone. Theoretically, if you keep them starved,
>they die or go dormant. That has been theoretically working for me for
>seven years.
>Some say it can actually cause PCa. Some say it will increase your PCa if
>you have it. At least one suggests bombarding the cancer with heavy doese
>of T will serve to kill it. That is a wide array of theories with which to
>contend.
>> I'm going to get an appointment with my GP to have the levels checked
>> but I would like to have a little information up front if at all
>> possible before I see him.
>
>A GP can check your levels. But I don't think there is a GP in the whole
>world that can give you an honest assessment of low T and high T with regard
>to your cancer. I know a PCa patient who summers here in Cincinnati and
>winters in New Mexico. He describes to me the lack of medical oncologists
>in your state, or at least in his region. I don't know how close he is to
>Albuquerque. But, that is really what you need.
No, I have not seen a medical oncologist yet although I think there
may be one in Durango Colorado (about 45 miles). So far I've only seen
two urologists. The last one was at the Albuquerque Cancer Center. He
is the one that recommended the wait-and-see approach. Because he is
the Da Vinci surgeon at the cancer center. I put a lot of stock in his
recommendation to forgo prostrate surgery. The one I saw in Durango
wanted to operate immediately.
I guess the bottom line is I'll have my GP check my T levels and talk
to the oncologist (if I can find one close by) as you recommend.
Anyway, thanks for the reply
Albert
Alan Meyer
...
> I guess the bottom line is I'll have my GP check my T levels
> and talk to the oncologist (if I can find one close by) as you
> recommend.
I think Steve summed it all up very well.
He and you are right that you need to get your testosterone level
checked. It would seem to be a big mistake to get supplemental T
if your levels are already normal for your age, and may be a big
mistake even if they're low.
You didn't say why you wanted T, just mentioned "obvious
reasons". I'm going to assume that means a problem with potency.
If that's not it, then disregard what follows.
At age 75, impotence would be pretty common and normal, even if
you had no special health problems. I don't know the statistics
but I've read that only very lucky men are still potent by age
80.
In your case however you not only have an age problem but other
problems as well that will contribute to impotence. Diabetes is
a known risk factor for impotence. Impotence is common in
diabetics who are much younger than you. Finasteride can also
cause impotence. So that's three strikes right there (age,
diabetes, Finasteride.) If you're overweight or have any heart
or circulatory problems, those are more strikes.
The good thing is that you're still interested in sex. Not all
men your age are. If you have a willing partner, then you're way
ahead of the game since most men your age do not. In fact, a
huge number of young men do not, as any collection of sex starved
college kids and not a few young and middle-aged married men
could tell you.
A good urologist could tell you more about all this, including
whether more testosterone could help you even apart from the
issue of your cancer. It sounds like you have a good urologist.
I would speak to him very candidly. Don't be shy. Write down
all of your questions before you go. Tell him everything and get
his advice. He's probably dealt with this issue hundreds of
times and nothing you could say to him would be something he
hasn't heard or thought about before.
I and many others here can testify from experience that sex
without "getting it up" or achieving penetration can still be
highly satisfying. Changes in a woman's vagina that occur with
age usually make penetration painful and difficult anyway. Be
inventive. You can both get a great deal of satisfaction without
traditional intercourse.
Good luck.
Alan
Albert
wrote:
Alan
With such good insight and advice it would be a shame not to use it. I
promise I will try to put it to good use. This is as candid as I can
be on such a public forum. I can only say that your crystal ball is
quite effective. We have come to the conclusion that by keeping a
healthy sex life that helps us to maintain an active lifestyle in all
of our daily activities.
Thank you I can use all luck I can get :-).
Albert
Albert
aml...@Hotmail.com
(use s instead of z
to e-mail me)