Low Testosterone

[LABrooks55]

Hi. My name is Lisa. My husband Bob was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016. He's had a total prostatectomy, 12 weeks of radiation and two lupron injections. We're both 63 years old. His Gleason score was 7. The cancer spilled out into his abdomen and there were cells found on the surgical margins. No lymph node involvement.

It's been a year since my husband's last Lupron injection. Not only is his testosterone still low, it's dropped to 187. Does anyone know if that's normal? Will it eventually go back to normal? Isn't a year a long time? Thanks!

[Hidden]

187 for testosterone is low. Was the Lupron shot a 3 month or 6 month shot? Also do you know what his T level was before going on Lupron?

Generally testosterone levels recover fully after 1 year. Here's an article on the subject: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/164...

[LABrooks55 in reply to Hidden]

Two three month shots

[LABrooks55 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. Very helpful article!

[Tall_Allen]

12 weeks of radiation? I've never heard that before - salvage radiation is usually about 7 weeks. His testosterone is low. When he has a record of undetectable PSAs his doctor may consider supplementing.

[spinosa in reply to Tall_Allen]

Yeah, 12 would be a hell of a lot - I had 40 - about 8 weeks...plus, a major change is coming...hypofractionated radiation - it'll run about 2-3 weeks.

[LABrooks55 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Ooops. I meant 8 weeks. Sorry.

[zenbee13 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Hi all,

I had 13 weeks after surgery to remove and then a recurring elevated PSA. It kept me clean for 2 years.

[pjoshea13]

Your husband may have had lowish testosterone [T] when diagnosed - perhaps because of an undiagnosed chronic low-level infection. T recovery after ADT is slow, but it's beginning to look as though he might not get above 350 ng/dL (the start of the normal range).

Some doctors are still reluctant to prescribe T for men who have been treated for PCa, but at age 63, I would be aggressively looking for a solution.

-Patrick

[Hidden]

I did not see PSA and Free PSA history. I can only relate to my Gleason 7 (4+3) in 2003. Seeds with 25 sessions of external radiation as a planned primary treatment. T at 800-1000 during this period.

PSA never really came down and started riding at nine months and at 11 months of primary treatment, PSA rose to 32.4 from the original 6.8. Scans when compared to the initial scan, seed scan and the external scan revealed two mets to my spine. I immediately took a three month Lupron injection and then planned by next course of action - so in 2004 and six weeks after finding mets, I underwent a six month chemotherapy trial.

I got to my Medical Oncologist on recommendation of my two Radiation Oncologists. My research medical oncologist wanted my T at less than 5! Less than 20 acceptable, but no more. I maintained less than 5 for the next six years. In February 2010 I took my last Lupron injection. 11 months later T had not come back and was about 5. Continuing with the trial, I was allowed to take low doses of testosterone (4 mg Androgen, twice a week). I still follow this regime and my T levels range from 350 to 750 depending on when I put on the gel and draw blood. Now, I have been most fortunate and my results are atypical, but then again my treatment for metastatic PCa was also atypical.

As I wish your husband the best in kicking this bastard, I have to ask, why the hurry to bring back T? Why only two injections and then stop? He is still not out of the woods yet during his two year ordeal. Based on your writing, he could still have mutated cells in his body-Let's hope not.

I suggest that he research and then discuss with his Radiation Oncologist or Medical Oncologist, the term "micro-metastates". In my research, there is a good chance that he will eventually develop metastatic disease if Radiation did not kill the cancers cells before they entered the lymphatic or vascular systems. I am 71 years of age. PSA is <0.1.

My comments are not to add worry to your lives, but rather deal with this disease in a realistic manner. We all have varying degrees of disease and what works fir one dies not necessarily work for others. There are too many variables and multiple treatment thoughts even among trained medical personnel. Ask yourself, am I going for delay or cure?

Take Care,

Gourd Dancer