Testosterone

We went to the see URO today about the low testosterone level. He stated that since Michaels PSA is undetectable there is no reason to NOT prescribe Androgel. He will now be having his PSA tested every 6 months instead of yearly, and will go back in a month to have his T level checked.

Just wanted to update.

 

Viperguy said...
My URO is also pro low T therapy. Funny how the thinking on the matter changes. At one time it was gasoline on the fire. Good luck.

I think that it's not so much that "thinking has changed"; rather, there is not a "one size fits all" solution for all PC cases. 

Low risk cases where the prostate has been removed, no positive margins or other indications that any PC has escaped or systemic PC exists, and after repeated PSA testing indicating undetectable, then testosterone therapy would likely be fine.

 

Aimzee - testosterone is pretty much only linked to prostate cancer. You can Google "Testosterone and Cancer" and you'll only get hits that link to prostate cancer.

I finished two months of Androgel two weeks ago. Per the suggestion from my URO - I stopped using it two weeks ago. I'm still a wee bit uncertain if I have any symptoms that warrant taking T Meds so I'm basically doing a before and after test. I'll probably start using Androgel again this weekend...

Susan R said...
We went to the see URO today about the low testosterone level. He stated that since Michaels PSA is undetectable there is no reason to NOT prescribe Androgel. He will now be having his PSA tested every 6 months instead of yearly, and will go back in a month to have his T level checked.

Just wanted to update.

Hi Susan,
A note of caution. When adding testosterone to the mix is important to monitor PSA more frequently than every 6 months. Also, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and estradiol should be monitored. More so at the start of testosterone therapy. Doing this every couple of months would provide some safety.

RalphV

Hi Susan.........Ralph is correct. Some of us who take testosterone, whether by cream, gel, shot, pellet, etc, quite often convert to estradiol and DHT. Some convert to both, some only one of those. But either conversion can be addressed/mitigated. That's why Ralph suggests the more frequent blood tests. I went from every 6 months of PSA tests back to every 4 months once on T therapy, and I've been on it for a year now. I converted bio-identical T cream to estradiol, and the effects were worse than when I started. Testosterone levels dropped, and everything else went in the opposite direction. Corrected that by moving to intramuscular shots, self-administered, and by experimenting with an estrogen inihibitor, namely Arimidex. I've benefitted in just about every category: strength, stamina, clear head, weight loss, muscle definition-----but I'm still lacking in the libido dept. It takes time for some; for others the benefits are total and immediate. We're just saying that it can me more than a simple exercise of supplemnting with "T"........I've included my stats so you can see what the MD's weighed when OKaying the regimen. I remain undetectable.

Arnie in DE

"I have not noticed any positive benefit though. Still sluggish, still have ED, still have weight problem.

I bet your wallet lost some weight...

Hi Susan,

I found a very informative link about Low T therapy on cancer guys.  It came off this forum.  The youtube video is long, however the Low T part is near the 25 minute mark that you can speed up.  To follow is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie8NkOu2VNA

Thank you for the information, folks!  Susan, please keep us posted.  Thanks!