how much T to feed pca

just got 15 month after 6 month adt shot psa test <.01 T87 up from <5 3 months back some time back TA said it took little T to feed pca what's a little? I think I am in a better place. Guess just wait 3 more months My life is in quarters!! thanks to all NEPOL

NEPOL,
Like everything else in prostate cancer the evidence is weak on what to define as an optimum number for T levels. Less than 50 ng/dl is generally considered optimal. Some doctors want it lower depending.

It's a little early to break out the champagne, save that for your 5 year anniversary...But your response to the SRT and ADT is looking real good...Are you out of the woods?? Only time will tell..But yes, a "T" reading of 87 is enough to feed the monster if he was hungry...Hopefully, you have no monster to feed...

Nepol,

Oh, you thought you were going to get to know something when your T comes back? That doesn't happen. Or, at least, you hope it doesn't happen. With PCa, certainty is not your friend. There are two kinds of results with PCa -- bad and inconclusive. The only time you get to know something for sure is when the results suck. What you want to do is pile up years and years of uncertainty and, as the years accumulate, that pile of inconclusive results will start to look pretty hopeful. Just take things a quarter at a time and if you make it to five years (as Fairwind says) then you can break out the champagne.

LOL. Nepal. That is a new one for this forum. I trust no one here will take you up on that! Best wishes for continued zeros!
Whenever I read your stats I always wonder about that upgrade to G9 and where it came from?
Beth

PeterDisAbelard. said...
Nepol,

Oh, you thought you were going to get to know something when your T comes back? That doesn't happen. Or, at least, you hope it doesn't happen. With PCa, certainty is not your friend. There are two kinds of results with PCa -- bad and inconclusive. The only time you get to know something for sure is when the results suck. What you want to do is pile up years and years of uncertainty and, as the years accumulate, that pile of inconclusive results will start to look pretty hopeful. Just take things a quarter at a time and if you make it to five years (as Fairwind says) then you can break out the champagne.

PeterDA, You have a unique gift of expression! I love this: "There are two kinds of results with PCa -- bad and inconclusive.". Here's to a long uncertainty!!

Hello Nepol,

This is a good question and I have some first-hand experience ...

My original urologist NEVER tested my testosterone level --- which is simple and easy to do, whenever you are doing your usual lab work.

When my primary ONCOLOGIST joined my team, we began to see a pattern of PSA "flares and spikes" --- which corresponded with spikes in my testosterone level --- testosterone being the "kerosene" which can add fuel to the wildfire, so to speak.

That being said, I did some background research --- researchers found that MANY doctors completely overlook testosterone levels, and simply use PSA as a marker ...

The research that I looked at showed that doctors strive to bring testosterone levels down BELOW 50, for cases with complexities like I have ... I had an advanced case, upon diagnosis when I was in my 40s.

Furthermore, they did more studies ... and found that for advanced cases or for patients who are experiencing PSA "spikes and flares" like I was ... it's best to get the testosterone down around 30 ... or even below, to keep PSA suppressed to the maximum level. Again, this is for complex or advanced cases ...

My oncologist vowed he would work to get my testosterone down to the lowest level that he could, thinking this would give us more "control" over the PSA --- so, over time, I switched from LUPRON shots ... to FIRMAGON shots ... and now I'm on the ZOLADEX shots, which you referenced in your post.

Over time, I've also done a series of chemo treatments, and we added ZYTIGA to my current list of medications.

Working with the ADT shots over time, my oncologist was pleased to see that the ZOLADEX seemed to bring my testosterone down to the lowest level possible --- and we also found that my testosterone and PSA stay in better "control" with once-a-month ADT shots, rather than the longer-lasting multi-month shot dosages.

For months in a row now, my testosterone has stayed less than 10 --- lowest it has ever been --- along with that, my PSA has stayed less than 0.05 for the last several months in a row --- for my case, keeping the testosterone LOW seems to take away the "kerosene from the wildfire" ---

It's easy for anyone on ADT shots to ask their oncologist to check now and then for testosterone levels --- you want to ensure that your ADT shot is working to its best advantage --- keeping the testosterone level low, to help suppress the PSA level ... it's easy to ask your doctor for an occasional testosterone test now and again ---

My oncologist is very caring and proactive, beyond words --- he has moved HEAVEN and EARTH and worked small miracles for me, time and time again --- just when I needed them the most ---

All his diligence and compassion and attention to detail must be paying off ... I just got my latest PSA test results today and it was 0.01 ... which seems like a miracle, based on where I started at the time of diagnosis ... details revealed in my signature below. Never did I imagine my PSA could EVER get that low, based on where I started in this medical journey ... again, once we worked the testosterone down, the PSA "spikes and flares" settled down, in accordance ...

Keep fighting the good fight, Nepol !

Iowa State University ~ CYCLONE TEAM FAN

PDA - thank you for that description!

I agree with RedWing

I've been trying to sum up an explanation to give to those that ask. I'm going to use your example (giving you full credit of course).