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Posted 1/15/2011 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
I am 76 and was diagnosed with prostate cancer two years ago. My PSA was 9.6. I had a biopsy done and I have cancer on the left side of the prostate and a few cells on the right side. I have no outward signs of a problem urinating, pain or blood in the urine or a bladder control problem. I had an ultrasound of my prostate and it is small - no sign of enlargement. I have decided to do nothing regarding any procedure being done. I have been on a lot of supplements, including taking three tablespoons of flaxseed oil daily, fish oil and 900 mg of saw palmetto twice a day, morning and night with a total of 1800 mg. My PSA has gone down more than two points, 7.2 on my last test. My question is regarding low testosterone, which I think I have. I have very little semen when ejaculating. This makes me think that I have low testosterone. Since it is known that testosterone is the main culprit of causing prostate cancer and my thinking because of the aforementioned, am I better off with low testosterone because of having prostate cancer or is there any danger of having low testosterone and should I try and bring it up?
Posted 1/15/2011 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
Guytalk
Age can be a determining factor when it comes to surgery. I am 67 and have had some severe complications. We just don't heal like the younger guys. Personally I would try and keep the testosterone low. You did not mention your Gleason score or whether all of the cancer has been detained within the capsule, and this is one of the main factors in decision making. Just from what you outlined I would not consider surgery but would consider some form of radiation or maintaining a low testosterone level given the Gleason score and whether there was tissue invasion outside the prostate capsule.
TTaylor
Posted 1/15/2011 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi guytalk,

Unfortunately, this is an area I don't know much about, but I understand that the conventional thinking is shifting.

There is a book called "Testosterone for Life" ($12 from Amazon) that includes a chapter on treating men with prostate cancer history. Might be worth a $12 investment for you to order and read this book.

Sorry I couldn't help more...
Posted 1/16/2011 12:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, TTaylor -   Thanks for your reply. Being new to the forum, I forgot to mention (very important) that my Gleason score was 3/4. My biopsy showed no sign of cancer being outside the prostate. I had two bone scans - one each year and there is no sign of bone cancer. Also, I had a CT of the pelvis that showed no cancer. I wanted another one the second year and the doctor that was in charge of reading the X-rays talked me out of it. He said that this was unnecessary radiation of my being exposed to. The urologist that I saw was pushing me to have a procedure done. This was when I was 75. He said that many doctors won't do a procedure on a man this age and my "time was running out" for having any procedure. I know of a man that is now 87 and was diagnosed with prostate cancer 13 years ago. He chose doing nothing about it and is doing fine and is presently on a long cruise. I feel that unless it is proven that your prostate cancer is aggressive, you are better off not having any procedure because none are a guarantee you are going to live longer. They all have serious consequences. When I was told I had prostate cancer, I vowed that I was not going to live the rest of my life in a bathroom because of all the complications associated with any procedure done. With the strong possibility of being impotent, incontinent and having bowl problems is enough to frighten any man. My main concern and question on this forum is having what I think is very low testosterone and wonder if it is a serious problem for me. I think you are right in doing nothing about it.
Posted 1/16/2011 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
Guytalk,

We do know one thing for certain..Adding testosterone WILL cause a growth of cells at a much faster than the slow pace your cancer is growing now. Fluid volume really isn't affected by a naturally low testosterone level however, since Saw Palmeto acts similarly to some of the RX drugs for an enlarged prostate, that would be a more likely cause.

If I may add one more tiny tid-bit; flax seed, not flax seed oil is preferred for prostate health according to the experts. Seeds are a great addition to a lot of dishes to boot :>)
Posted 1/16/2011 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with Swim on the flax seed oil. Dr. "Snuffy Myers", a renowned prostate cancer oncologist warned against the use of flax seed oil (believing it may actually be harmful) but was a supporter of whole ground flax seed as beneficial. Regarding testosterone, don't assume it is low ------ get a blood test. Testosterone diminishes with age but what is low for one man is not necessarily low for another. Downside to low testosterone can be that low levels can contribute to diabetes, heart disease, weight gain around the mid section, bone density loss, lack of "joie de vivre". Even if your testosterone is low but is not causing such problems (lack of energy, tiredness etc) then given the Pca diagnosis it might be prudent to leave it be.
Bill

Post Edited (BillyMac) : 1/15/2011 6:32:11 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/16/2011 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you swimom and BillyMac for your replies. Glad to know that flax seed is the way to go. I do have to wonder why the oil is not good when the oil is taken from flax seeds. Do you have to add flax seed to something in order to use it? Since I have never used flax seeds, is there a way to take it without putting it into bread or a beverage or whatever?

guytalk

Posted 1/16/2011 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
I throw some on my morning oatmeal everyday. I suppose you can include them to many things in your diet.

Good luck.
Posted 1/16/2011 1:53 AM (GMT 0)
Guytalk,
I would also consider adding Adovart or Proscar if you are not getting any treatment. It is very easy to have your T checked, any lab or doctor's office will do it; normal T is 300, but because of your age it may be lower.
JT
Posted 1/16/2011 4:38 AM (GMT 0)
On flax seed:

The reason, as I understand it, that flax seed oil or store bought meal is not recommended is because it goes rancid so quickly.

The flax seed itself will keep for a long time just as wheat berries do.

Most people get a little electric coffee grinder ($10) and grind up a small amount of flax seeds just before using. When ground they can be hidden in almost any food. Don't taste bad all alone either.

If you Google "flax seed" you will find several companies that include a grinder with your first order.

I was surprised to find out how quickly the ground seeds went rancid - A matter of less than one hour for fresh ground seeds.

Don K.

Posted 1/16/2011 5:07 AM (GMT 0)

Red Nighthawk, John T and Don K, thank you for your input. All you guys are great in your wise comments. It certainly makes sense that the oil could get rancid. I do know the difference. The first couple of bottles purchased at the same time had a strong taste. I first wondered if it was the taste of flax seed but really had a suspicion of it being old. I have been buying flaxseed oil at Wal-Mart that has a very mild and to the point of no taste for six dollars a bottle. I put it in my refrigerator to keep it fresh. I never thought of using a coffee grinder to grind the seeds. I fix about three times a week, 9-grain cereal that I buy in a health food store. I put it in the blender and knock it down for a few seconds. This way it cooks faster. Otherwise, you have to cook it for a good 20 minutes or more. It has some flax seed in it but not much. I guess you all have heard about the false claims of pomegranate juice being very beneficial and curing prostate cancer. I fell for it and went through many of expensive bottles of it. I stopped drinking it about three months ago. Have saved a lot of money. I am soon ready to have another complete blood draw. I will make sure that a test of my testosterone is one of the tests.

 

JohnT. - I may have Proscar mixed up with something similar to that name but it seems that I read where it does more harm than good and can cause cancer to become aggressive. Please correct me if I have the wrong info. It seems like that was the name that I read about.

 

guytalk

Posted 1/16/2011 5:18 AM (GMT 0)
You can have your "T" level (testosterone) tested any time you want..A simple blood test like PSA...Then you will KNOW what it is..The "normal range is 300-700..It's higher in the morning, lower in the evening..Prostate Cancer feeds off it so boosting your "T" level is usually not advised. There are drugs and diet (soy) that can lower "T" counts..

I suspect your Gleason 3+4=7 will make itself known sooner of later no matter how much flax seed and saw palmetto you consume...JMHO..But hey, you can't argue with success..
Posted 1/16/2011 12:48 PM (GMT 0)
Given your attention to diet and supplements I suggest that you read the book "Beating Prostate Cancer with Hormone Therapy and Diet" by Dr. Snuffy Meyers. He has a very good section on supplements and includes Lycopene and Selenium in the mix. Another diet specialist that has written a book regarding PCa is Dr. Mark Moyad at the Univ. of Michigan.

Regarding treatment, the best surgeons will not operate on guys over age 70. Various radiation therapies can be done including temporary High Dose abd permanent Low Dose brachytherapy. Also the hormone therapy has many variants and can be very effective.

John T's reference to Proscar and Avodart is excellent. I am on a new drug called Jalyn that combines Avodart and Flomax. Avodart and Proscar depress the DHT, a form of testosterone produced by the adrenal glands that is far more powerful than the testosterone produced by the testes. Thus you can lower some of the T level without going to the castrate levels and the side effects. Meyers covers this very well in his book.
Posted 1/17/2011 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
I must say that I am to the point of being shocked at several of the post replies of having numerous biopsies. One is too many. I say that ONLY because they can be quite dangerous having. Obviously, if one's PSA is in a range of being concerned, a biopsy is a necessary evil. Having a biopsy is MAJOR with my thinking. It is most uncomfortable and you can end up with serious consequences. After having the one, I was not well for at least a couple of months. It took that long alone to get the blood out of the semen. I felt totally impotent and thought I would never get back an erection. I was given antibiotics two days before this procedure and also given two different types of a sedative to relax me on the day it took place. After the procedure and sat up on the table where it was performed, I immediately got very sick at my stomach. I threw up five times in the doctor's office. When I got home, I threw up three more times, with dry heaves that I thought my stomach would burst with pain. Reading about the dangers of a biopsy is enough to keep anyone from having one. Firstly, you better well trust your urologist in knowing what he is doing. Reading, it said that several things have to be considered - CLEANLINESS of the needles for starters, followed by making sure that the urologist is using sharp needles. As with anything, they dull after being used several times. A dull needle will bounce right off a cancer cell because they are firm. The needle will end up in good living tissue and you get a false reading. Also, it is important that the spring in the gun used by the urologist is not weak from being used too many times. These are just some of the precautions to think about . Unfortunately, the patient is uninformed when a urologist says you need a biopsy and you trust the doctor. Getting general information of the procedure is not enough. Few of us do further research other than just learning what will take place during the procedure. Personally, I think having a biopsy can cause cancer to spread because you become very exposed and vulnerable in the areas that have been invaded with needle cuts. It can't be good. I had one, know that cancer has been found and will never have another one. You can end up permanently impotent by having one if the doctor isn't very careful going into the prostate for the biopsy. Those very sensitive nerve areas around the prostate can be damaged and your erection days are over.
Posted 1/17/2011 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
JNF,   Here is a list of supplements I take. I take a Centrum Silver, which includes among many vitamins, Lyc opene 300 mg. Is that enough? I am unsure. In addition to this multi-vitamin, I take SINGLE TABLETS of 1 adult aspirin, Zinc 50 mg, Calcium 600 mg with Vitamin D, Zinc 50 mg, Selenium 200 mcg, Vitamin C 500 mg, Saw Palmetto, a total of 1800 mg, (900 mg in the morning and another 900 mg at night), 3 tablespoons of Flaxseed oil and two 1000 mg capsules of fish oil. Everything but the flaxseed oil is taken with a glass of non-fat milk made from non-fat dry milk. I make my own bread with 9-grain cereal, along with steel-cut oats. By the way guys, I suggest you start eating steel-cut oats instead of the typical store bought rolled oat flakes. Most of the nutrition in oat flakes is destroyed in the process. All the oils are removed. You end up with cardboard tasting and less nutrition flakes. The taste of steel-cut oats versus the rolled kind is as different as day and night. I have heard pros and cons in taking Vitamin C and Vitamin E. I took Vitamin E for years and when I heard it wasn't good, I quit taking it. I still take Vitamin C and I may again take Vitamin E. If we believe all the hype that is out there, we'll go nuts. I will check out Proscar and Avodart. Is Jalyn truly a drug or is it a health food product?
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