Posted 5/3/2024 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
I started TRT around age fifty using pellets but had to quit at age 59 due to prostate cancer. I was stage 1 encapsulated per MRI, Gleason 7 (3+4) with 4/12 positive cores. I underwent HD Brachytherapy and my PSA, after bumping up to 0.36 has slowly come down and has now been < 0.1 for the last two years. Just finished my five year post-treatment PSA which is < 0.05. Biochemical recurrence for me will be a PSA of 2.0
Over the course of several years I became completely impotent. Even the tri-mix injections stopped working, though for some strange reason I do occasionally still wake up with morning wood. A warning for those using tri-mix: Heed the advice of going to the ER if the erection lasts too long (though you'll probably wait for hours in the ER!). I didn't, and despite having the "antidote" injection, I often just had to wait the erection out. I think my penis was damaged by this. The shape was deformed (hourglass erection) and it's maybe 3/5 the size it was previously. This isn't the primary reason for wanting to go back on trt though. I want psychological effects.
At 64, my testosterone is now at 281 ng/dl. I have an appointment with a uro tomorrow to get back on TRT. I had previously done some extra testing beyond what the doctor ordered while on pellets and saw that my test levels would sometimes go to over 1,400 for 2-3 weeks in the 4-5 month pellet implant cycle. This time I'm going to inject testosterone cypionate (probably 2x per week) instead of pellets so I can maintain a more constant level and be able to get it out of my system quicker if I see a problem.
I read everything I could about TRT post PCa and have decided that the risk is worth it to me. There does not seem to be evidence that TRT is causing PCa to return, though things are a bit up in the air at this point.
I'll try to post updates on what happens. I'm not sure how I'll handle even a 0.1 increase in PSA to be honest, but I really don't feel good at my current test levels.