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Anybody had successful gynecomastia treatment?

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Posted 7/6/2015 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on Avodart for 9 months. Added bicalutamide the past 4 months. Noticed gynecomastia starting a couple months ago. Myers won't prescribe tamoxifen for it due to safety issues and not enough data for its use for this issue, though I've seen it recommended in quite a few searches. Most of the research I've seen doesn't address its long term use though. I'm waiting for an arimidex prescription to arrive, but from my reading I'm {not} confident it will do much. Radiation doesn't sound {too} cool {either} due to heart risk. I sure don't want to mess that up now that all my CV tests are so good. Seems surgery/lipo can fix it once and for all, but the various techniques are confusing to sort out. Mine hasn't gone too far yet, but it's embarrassing to me already even though it's not visible with a shirt on. I used the pool with my kids this weekend and they didn't say they noticed anything, but I didn't give them much opportunity. Besides the looks, they are painful when bumped.

If I decide on surgery, what kind do I go to? I suppose some must be specialized somewhat on men's issues, but I don't know.

Looking for success stories. :-)

{edits} to fix typos

Post Edited (Rigby) : 7/6/2015 3:05:43 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/6/2015 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
So you've had problems with blood clots - is that the issue?

An out-of-the-box idea...
There is a related experimental medicine called Afimoxifen (4-hydroxytamoxifen) that can be prepared as a transdermal gel (called TamoGel). This gel penetrates the skin and affects breast tissue but does not get absorbed systemically, so there's no danger of blood clots. Tamoxifen itself can't be used this way because the liver must convert it to the active metabolite first. I've never seen TamoGel researched for gynecomastia, and I don't know if it will work, but Dr. Myers has a reputation for trying experimental medicines, and you have nothing to lose by presenting the idea to him. If Dr. Myers is willing to contact ASCEND Therapeutics Inc and obtain some of their TamoGel for research purposes, and they are willing to sell it, you might be able to get some. Here's the contact info:

TamoGel

If not, a dermatologist can inject corticosteroids into the breast tissue to break it down - but they have to do that at an early stage before it becomes fibrotic. Afterwards, a plastic surgeon can cut it out.

- Allen
Posted 7/6/2015 9:09 PM (GMT 0)
No problems with blood clots. What I've read indicates heart risk since the heart is in line with the radiation. Myers doesn't like Tamoxifen because it can cause cancer. Keeping it out of the liver sounds like a good idea.
Posted 7/6/2015 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
I had a gynecomastia excised maybe 15 years ago with no other symptoms or anything - it just appeared out of the blue. No problems with it post-surgery. The worst part was getting a mammogram - the tech kept calling me dear and sweetie, etc. smilewinkgrin
Posted 7/7/2015 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
Tamoxifen has been implicated in uterine cancer, but since you don't have one, why is he worried? The X-rays don't go very deep.
Posted 7/7/2015 11:12 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on Bicalutamide 50 mg for about7-8 months. I had irradiation to the breast in order to prevent gynecomastia, unfortunately it did not help. 3 months ago I had tenderness on my nipples and breast swelling. I started Tamoxifen 20 mg 5 weeks ago, all the symptoms have gone already.
Now I am thinking if I can reduce the dose to 10 mg Tamoxifen. Any thoughts?
Posted 7/7/2015 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
That's what I've seen on other sites. 20mg to get rid of it, 10mg to keep it away.
Posted 7/7/2015 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
I had liposuction surgery. 4,500$ total. In by 7 a. m. out at 2 p. m. Can be repeated (Lord I hope not)
Medicare covered cost (most) due to oncologist noting the gynecomastia code on my records over several years. At least I think that is why it was covered.
Posted 7/7/2015 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
Before I began HT in Feb 2014 I met with the Radiologist at my cancer center.

We discussed having the radiation done before I began and the risks. He stated that the only real risk was the possibility of it causing a secondary cancer in 8-10 years. I got a pretty good laugh out of that one. He looked at me surprised.

His PA informed him that he had just told me I would be around to worry about that in 10 years. I asked him for a guarantee.

He explained that the radiation, low dosage and to only the breast buds, would prevent growth. Only 3 days and very specific target application. When they marked me for the radiation I had only black circles drawn just barely larger than the aureola.

That has been about 1.5 years and I have no growth and no issues.

However, I had mine done before HT, which is the preferred and prescribed order. I don't know how it works after you have already started HT.

Just for what its worth,

Sonny
Posted 7/7/2015 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
Radiation has a poor success rate compared to tamoxifen. Traveller - if the swelling and tenderness has gone, why not ask your doctor to reduce the dosage?
Posted 7/8/2015 11:04 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the advice Allen, certainly I'll ask my dr.
Posted 7/8/2015 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
Any Snuffy patients out there who did take Tamoxifen? He mentioned it as a solution in one of his videos which is why I asked for it. It's the only thing I've seen that gets rid of it, if taken soon enough. Maybe he'd be ok with using it long enough to fix the problem then switch to arimidex if he considers it safer? If five weeks is enough it seems it would be quite safe compared to 5 or 10 years that women take it. Lots of stuff comes up on bodybuilder sites.
Posted 7/10/2015 6:36 PM (GMT 0)
Just an update on my situation. The breast pain is going away after being on arimidex for five days. I also skipped bicalutamide last friday & monday, while waiting for my prescription. So maybe it's a combination of things helping out. No change in the shape of things, unfortunately, but there is no promise of that with this treatment.
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