One year since surgery

[estoud]

I had my psa test today one year post surgery and it is undetectable. I asked my urologist about getting on metformin and a statin because I have high triglycerides and an a1c of 5.8. He said they have anticancer properties and recommended them.

[Hidden]

You are lucky. I had to take my PCP to a CIA safe house and threaten to waterboard him if he didn't write me a scrip for metformin and a statin.

[AlanMeyer in reply to Hidden]

ROFL. I hope he gave in. I wouldn't have wanted him to take the alternative and shot you.

[Beermaker in reply to Hidden]

My fasting blood glucose runs about 110, but it has done that for years. My cholesterol levels are good. So when I asked my Uro and Onc about Metformin and statins, they both said talk to my PCP. I was sort of dreading that talk. After I talked to my PCP about the statin, he surprised me by knowing a lot about its use for cancer control and immediately gave me a script for Simvastatin at 40mg. I don't know if it is doing anything but not apparent side effects. If you want to ask you PCP about these options, take some good background material with you. It might help, or he may just blow you off. If so, find another PCP.

[wifeofvet in reply to Beermaker]

i don't know about you guys, but most of us gals are capable ENOUGH to strongarm our PCPs into about anything. my PCP now asks me what it is i want from him. TRY IT. JUST GO ARMED WITH JUSTIFICATiONS. each time he sees the improvements in my test results, he says, ''i guess it would be disingenuous for me to claim credit for that.''

YOU MEN ARE ARMED WITH SOME OF THE BEST ADVICE AND RESEARCH FROM THIS SITE. ASSERT YOURSELVES.

I wish my husband were still alive to see the inroads lain.

[j-o-h-n in reply to wifeofvet]

I like your spunk... I bet your husband liked it too....He probably misses it up there with all those unspunkable angels.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 08/01/2018 7:18 PM EDT

[wifeofvet in reply to Beermaker]

it has nothing to do with your sugar levels and everything to do with METFORMIN ITSELF.

from the NIH..

Abstract

Metformin, an inexpensive, well-tolerated oral agent that is commonly used in the first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes, has become the focus of intense research as a potential anticancer agent. This research reflects a convergence of epidemiologic, clinical, and preclinical evidence, suggesting that metformin may lower cancer risk in diabetics and improve outcomes of many common cancers. Notably, metformin mediates an approximately 30 % reduction in the lifetime risk of cancer in diabetic patients. There is growing recognition that metformin may act (1) directly on cancer cells, primarily by impacting mitochondrial respiration leading to the activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which controls energy homeostasis in cells, but also through other mechanisms or (2) indirectly on the host metabolism, largely through AMPK-mediated reduction in hepatic gluconeogenesis, leading to reduced circulating insulin levels and decreased insulin/IGF-1 receptor-mediated activation of the PI3K pathway. Support for this comes from the observation that metformin inhibits cancer cell growth in vitro and delays the onset of tobacco carcinogen-induced lung cancer in mice and that metformin and its analog phenformin delay spontaneous tumor development cancer-prone transgenic mice. The potential for both direct antitumor effects and indirect host-mediated effects has sparked enormous interest, but has led to added challenges in translating preclinical findings to the clinical setting. Nonetheless, the accumulation of evidence has been sufficient to justify initiation of clinical trials of metformin as an anticancer agent in the clinical setting, including a large-scale adjuvant study in breast cancer, with additional studies planned.

[bitittle]

You might want to try cutting out added sugar sweets, processed foods and deserts. Add activity to your daily routine and you won’t need the statins or metformin. I cut my triglycerides in half under the recommended upper limit of 150 and a1c is regularly below the 5.7 upper limit.

[estoud in reply to bitittle]

Thanks , I have been cutting back on refined carbs and I am considering using red yeast rice and berberine to help control blood sugar and lipids.

[bitittle in reply to estoud]

I also take red yeast rice which helped drop ldl’s about 15%. I exercise quite a bit also. I am sure its a combination of all the above. I am not a fan of statins unless mandatory. Good luck!

[estoud in reply to bitittle]

Heck , I already exercise about two hours everyday ; I cycle and/or walk and/or use my concept two rowing machine. I think my love of fruit juices may have something to do with my high lipids and A1C once I cut out red meat and dairy products.