Using myself as an example---ONLY--I am reporting below some interesting personal Testosterone numbers, and how things may have occurred.
First I was diagnosed in Dec. 1993 as being Low T. under 320 ng/dl of blood. I was prescribed the shots, which became Androgel, and then Compounded Nature Identical. All authorized by Urologists until my Pca DX in 2015. I even took vacations, and after 30 days my T would drop back to 320. Under Supplementation, I maintained 800 ng/dl, for 22 years. and all my Docs. and I agree that T supplementation does not cause Pca. We are of the opinion that Low T is a sign that you may be getting Pca at some time.
The theory is---that just because you supplement---the body does not recognize you as normal T or high T--but considers itself Low T at all times. Even though you can build muscle like crazy, and go every day with the ladies, you are still Low T.
So after 22 months of ADT, now 75 years old--starting at age 71 my T averaged about 20. Discussions with my MO and Uro--all indicated that after such a time even though I had sex nerve sparring surgery---that My Leydic Cells were dead, or should be, and any T would probably just come from the Adrenals, and not my Testicles; anymore.
Well delving into my Supplemental Knowledge Base, as soon as I went on my ADT vacation---PSA on ADT and off/vacation--has now accumulated to 32 months of undetectability. So as to the supplementation, I added 2 supplements: Stinging Nettle, caps and Tea, and the real winner in my opinion, Avena Sativa. and made a drug adjustment and got my T3 Thyroid number up well over the mid-point of the range. Now Avena Sativa--is Green Oat Grass--which is what they feed Studding Horses to keep them going after the Mares, day and night. So the Chemistry on this is that 90% of our Testosterone at most times is bound to our SHBG[Sex Hormone Binding Globulin], And the supplements unbind the T from the SHBG, which dramatically increases your Free T, Which is what really counts. If you have a 1000 ng/dl T but almost zero Free T you are mostly worthless, if it is all bound up.
OK on to the numbers --now maybe I do not have them all, exact, but as I went on vacation, over the months my T went from 20--105--155--215--310--405--550--630--to last week 759. I had never had my Natural T ever be over 340 in 20 plus years. My 42 Year old MO asked, are you supplementing?---no I said---just using things in nature, as God has provided. He continued you know your T is 200 points more than me. I just shrugged. This plan was hatched with my Integrative GP--he took care of the Thyroid, and I took care of the rest
This is just a report. That one can keep their Leydic cells alive with--- the right Supplemental program, and by go easy on them if you use the Vantas Lupron type implant while on ADT. There is no harsh up and down shocks to the body--from the shots--especially when they load you up with a 3 or 6 month shot. These tend to kill the Leydic cells IMO.
NOW CAUTION/WARNING--I AM NOT RECOMMENDING, NOT ONE READER TO DO WHAT I HAVE DONE. AND THERE IS NO WAY THAT I WOULD ATTEMPT ANYTHING AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. I DID IT BECAUSE I ACCUMULATED MANY MANY MONTHS OF UNDETECTABILITY--RE: PSA, AND NEGATIVE BONE SCANS. SO PLEASE NO ONE THINK FOR A SECOND THEY CAN DO THIS. BUT THERE ARE MEN THAT HAVE BEEN PSA UNDETECTABLE OR IN A DURABLE REMISSION, FOR MANY YEARS, WHO HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT GETTING THEIR T BACK. I AM JUST REPORTING. AND AS USUAL, I MAKE THE CLAIM THAT I AM NOT A DOCTOR.
Interesting as I finish up, the hair under my arms have not come back, the pubic hair is still very sparse, hair on back gone---thank God. And I do not need deodorant, as it appears, my body is not making male Pheromones yet. But I got to admit the Dry Orgasms while not like the old days--are pretty damn good--and available daily. What a way to end a Post.
Nalakrats
So wonderful to have you back. I admire your writing style, your knowledge and most of all I admire you as a human being. Thanks for encouraging me.
PS my testosterone level is 12 and my psa 0.029.
PS
My new doctor is cancer.ucsf.edu/people/prof...
Glad your PSA is in the undetectable range---I am still writing on paper a post on undetectable PSA's and trying to kill off that which we cannot detect--coming soon--need some more meta-data---will be asking our group for some of the data---soon.