HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Testosterone after Brachytherapy?

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/10/2013 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

2 years since Brachytherapy. PSA has been below .5 with one spike to 1.8. Last test was .4 and T @ 160.

I was on Testosterone supplements before the procedure and then stopped after PCA diagnosis and treatment.

Met with my Doctor the other day and he suggested that it might be OK to resume T supplements on a limited basis and referred me to this article: http://gr8alchemy.net/debunking-myths-and-legends-testosterone-prostate-cancer/

What do you all think?

Thanks in advance,
John
Posted 10/10/2013 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
I started T Meds after three years of Zeros... My URO said that I either still had cancer or I don't... If I did, the T meds would let me know sooner rather than later.

Two years later I'm my PSA is still Zero.
Posted 10/10/2013 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
It was testosterone that allowed Dave's pc to be found so early. I agree with Steve. If Testosterone lets a cancer be found earlier instead of slowly growing in the body till it's at an advanced stage, I'd use it.

Dave is looking forward to getting T pellets again but has to have 3 0 psa tests first.
Posted 10/10/2013 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
There was a small pilot study on 31 men who had low T after brachy. They were given testosterone replacement therapy and watched closely for up to 9 years. They found "No patients stopped TRT because of cancer recurrence or documented cancer progression."

Testosterone replacement for hypogonadism after treatment of early prostate cancer with brachytherapy

This one reached a similar conclusion among 13 men who had been treated with EBRT or brachy. They conclude "TRT in the setting of CaP after treatment with radiation therapy results in a rise in serum T levels and improvement in hypogonadal symptoms without evidence of CaP recurrence or progression."

Testosterone replacement therapy in the setting of prostate cancer treated with radiation

These small, observational or retrospective studies are promising, but there have been no large scale randomized controlled trials. In that absence, the following article makes some prudent suggestions for appropriate follow-up:

Unpredictabilitity of TRT
Click on "Get PDF" at the right for the full text.

- Allen

Post Edited (Tall Allen) : 10/10/2013 2:02:33 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/10/2013 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
John,

I'd do it. You are a gleason 6 whose PSA has behaved well since treatment. The risks are small and the potential benefit's significant. Go for it.
Posted 10/12/2013 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies/thoughts/advice.
I'm going to try for a month and get fresh blood work.
I feel better already after two days of T.
John
Posted 10/12/2013 7:23 PM (GMT 0)
John how are you doing in general two years post-brachy? Did you ever have that sort of "my prostate was fried" feeling?
Posted 10/12/2013 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
Buddy,
Not sure what you mean. The radiation fried it I guess.
John
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply