HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Still Undetectable...but...

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/14/2009 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
My blog has been updated...

My T levels one month after stopping Casodex and skipping my 4 month Lupron injection was ...well still minute. It was 21. I was kinda disappointed as I was hoping for a noticeable increase. Didn't happen.

More of a worry is my lipids. They were sky high. My doc believes that we need to intervene with better dietary control, exercise, and medication. Simply put my body is not metabolizing they way it used to so it needs to be addressed.

Also, there were early signs of gynocomastia. I have breast tenderness and it is related to the HT. We need the T levels to get going...

My PSA History
October 3, 2006 19.8
October 10, 2006 18.9
November 27, 2006 13.9
Surgery February 16, 2007
February 28, 2007 0.9
March 12, 2007 0.1
March 23, 2007 <0.1
May 16, 2007 <0.1
July 18, 2007 <0.1
September 19, 2007 <0.1
January 29, 2008 <0.1
May 9, 2008 <0.1
September 17, 2008 <0.1
January 13, 2009 <0.1
May 11, 2009 <0.1 T=50
October 7, 2009 <0.1 T=21

We'll get it right...

Rm 5:1-5

Amen!


Tony
Posted 10/14/2009 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
Fabulous news on the undetectable. I already left a note, but wanted to congratulate you again and let you know that the family and I will be thinking of you and believe 100% things will turn around with the T soon:)
Posted 10/14/2009 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
Tony, how does one increase the "T" number in your situation? I am clueless. And why is it bad if it is low?

David
Posted 10/14/2009 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
Tony,
Great on the PSA. Did you take Femera while on Casodex to stop the breast growth?
JT
Posted 10/14/2009 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
David,
Testosterone keeps a man strong, it protects bones, and it makes us feel "normal"... Without testosterone my bones are brittle, osteoperosis can permanently set in. In addition my body metabolizes differently than before. I have increased cholesterol counts and even blood pressure increases. Not to mention hot flashes and "being in touch with my emotions". I also have been having breast tenderness but i have not experienced any growth.

Low T levels have been associated with depression, but I have that one under control...

Tony
Posted 10/14/2009 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
I like the others wish you well I unlike the others have History with you and I do feel a kinship with your plight and I know I would not be the same without the gifted surgeon we had shared. Your numbers are and your outlook is positive in nature I do wish you well. I was just informed by LLU my new PSA was slightly different than the last and was to continue to fluctuate, the Radiation has seemed to control the beast as it were for now for that i am grateful. Stay well my friend.
Posted 10/14/2009 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
John we did take Letrozole but it caused nausea. I don't have growth yet, just the tenderness. Hopefully it won't be an issue with the rising T levels. I think if I go back on I will look at the radiation option if it's not too late.


mjr,
Thanks buddy! We are in this together. May your healing continue...

Tony
Posted 10/15/2009 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
Tony,
The good news is that your PSA remains undetectable. All other issues can be dealt with because you are in the drivers seat. I know you can do whatever it takes to get things back to normal.
Posted 10/15/2009 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
Tony,

Thanks for the explanations. Makes sense, just something I never had to think about before.
You are still doing great, with even a better attitude.

David
Posted 10/15/2009 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
Tony, Your report gives me great pause, but I am glad you posted it. I am going to do a lot more research and soul searching before I commit to the HT/RT. All the best. Roger
Posted 10/15/2009 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
Roger,
I believe it was the right plan for me. I am doing very well attitude wise and the cancer is in remission. If I had to do this again, and have success, I would do it.

But you should not do it without fully understanding the goals...and the SE's. I have had them.

Tony
Posted 10/15/2009 1:21 AM (GMT 0)
Great news on the undetectable. I know you will work the other issues.
Posted 10/15/2009 2:50 AM (GMT 0)
Tony, all that noise you hear from up north is me cheering you on!

Thanks for the report. Love the PSA and good luck with the "T"

Sheldon AKA Sleepless
Posted 10/15/2009 10:49 AM (GMT 0)
Greetings, Tony.  Great news on the undetectable.  Keep those zero's coming in.  On the other issues, I'm sure you and your doc's can find a plan of attack.  Before my surgery I took one pill - now I take a handful everyday.  I think I have the opposite problem regarding cholesterol - mine is too low (they are mainly concerned about the good kind being too low).  Keep up the good attitute - you are a great role model for those of us who have not had to face as much as you have.  We appreciate your leadership.  David

Posted 10/15/2009 12:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Tony, congrats on the PSA number. ......Like many others here I have followed your personal journey and thank you for your tireless efforts in combatting PC on behalf of all of us...........Relative to your low testosterone levels and classic accompanying symtoms, you mentioned you have the depression symptoms "under control". Are you taking an anti-depressant? My "T" levels have been low post-surgery (certainly not as low as yours due to HT you underwent), but low enough to produce all the low T symptoms. Of course my MD's are following protocol of not supplementing or having discussion of such until I reach at least one year of PSA's of <0.1. So I agreed to try a mild anti-depressant (Wellbutrin) which in 6 weeks time has taken away some of the foggy brain, fatigue and irritability, but I still have stength issues and zero libido.........Wondering what relief you have experienced re: depression and how you addressed it.

                         Arnie in DE

Posted 10/16/2009 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
Arnie I addressed depression with a conscious effort. I knew that when I felt down that I needed to recognize it and change the mind set somehow. Many times it was to get busy living instead of dwelling. It did not take long at all to forget about feeling down. I got through depression without medical intervention. I still get those mood swings but I know it's the meds. So I attribute it to it and move on.

Tony
Posted 10/16/2009 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Tony..........I'm sending you an email,

                        Arnie

Posted 10/16/2009 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
Tony,
The only part I understood in your first post was the "undetectable". Congratulatins. I'm honored to stand next to you. Since I am still a mere babe in the woods about this issue the rest of your post was white-noise. Hopefully they can be addressed by people much more intelligent and informed than I.
Jeff
Posted 10/16/2009 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
Jeff,
I am still experiencing the side effects of hormone therapy. Having been off a month I was hopeful that my testosterone was rising back up. No such luck. But I am very happy about the undetectable PSA. Overall a good day.

Tony
Posted 10/17/2009 3:13 AM (GMT 0)
you are the man Tony and glad your numbers are still great. I think I will make plans to come to Vegas someday soon and sit in on an RCIA class. Heck you might even let me teach one.

love you brother

Dale
Posted 10/17/2009 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
Hey man,
You get out here, I hand the class over to you. Count on it.

Tony
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply