Surgery and Prostrate Cancer Sufferers

[shipoo]

I am a 76 year old with advanced prostrate cancer and have been following this blog for several years. Taking 300mg of olaparib (Lynparza) 2times a day and monthly Firmagon injections. Testosterone less than 10L. Need shoulder replacement and concerned about healing due to low T and any other possible problems. Anyone have experience or knowledge about surgery for prostrate cancer sufferers. Thanks for any insights.

[Tall_Allen]

Women have surgery all the time and heal just fine without testosterone.

[shipoo in reply to Tall_Allen]

Good point. I do know; however, that there are studies that address low testosterone and wound healing.

[tango65 in reply to shipoo]

Testosterone plays a role in wound healing.

"It is clear that testosterone is needed for the wound healing process since decreased levels impede healing.(57,79,80) Adequate testosterone levels are required for IGF-1 production, IGF-1 being a wound healing agent. However, there is no good data that an increase in testosterone levels above normal improves wound healing."

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl....

[shipoo in reply to tango65]

Thanks Tango. Do u know if 10L is an adequate level to produce IGF-1?

[tango65 in reply to shipoo]

I do not know what is the minimal level of testosterone needed to adequate produce IGF-1. Since you are having monthly firmagon injections I believe your testosterone must be at castration levels and that amount of testosterone may not be sufficient. This is something you have to discuss with your MO and your orthopedic surgeon who may have clinical experience in this situation.

[shipoo in reply to tango65]

I’ll have that discussion. Thanks

[MJCA]

I am 60. I have been on about 5 rounds of Lupron. Currently I have been on Erleada and Lupron for the past 20 months. Last I knew my T count was 7. I just had surgery. I had lost 210+ pounds. I just had 6 pounds of excess skin around my abdomen removed. That means an incision halfway across my belly. Saw the doc today, 11 days after surgery and I am healing very well!!

[treedown in reply to MJCA]

Thats a lot of weight while on ADT, good work ! I lost about 45 pounds over the last few months and have just enough access skin on my belly to make me feel fat at 159

[MJCA in reply to treedown]

I know the feeling, I was feeling fat at 138!!

[shipoo in reply to MJCA]

Congratulations on the weight loss. Glad to hear that the healing process is going well

[MJCA in reply to shipoo]

Over the past 15 years, I have had a number of medical procedures. 3 prosthetic joints especially. Ask your doctor, he/she have your best health in mind.

[shipoo in reply to MJCA]

Sounds as though your procedures had no healing difficulties. I will talk to my docs,

[MJCA in reply to shipoo]

No offense meant, I was in my fifties when I had these procedures.

[addicted2cycling in reply to MJCA]

MJCA wrote >>> " ...I had lost 210+ pounds... "

That is OUTSTANDING !!!! Most/fastest weight loss for me was 10 pounds at age of 65 in just minutes when the urologist performed my Bilateral Orchiectomy. ;0)

The Pathologist's report of my testicles noted, and I "QUOTE" >>> "I can officially confirm that IT IS POSSIBLE to fit 10 pounds of balls in a 5 pound sack."

Hoping you continue to heal well allowing you to "Live Long and Prosper"

[MJCA]

Having had this disease 15 years, this is just a pet peeve.......

It’s PROSTATE NOT prostRate.

[ctarleton in reply to MJCA]

I used to have such thoughts, but I cut a lot more slack these days. As people do more and more learning about the details of their newfound disease and treatment options, and have more conversations with their doctors, ... the prostate/prostrate quirk usually goes away on its own.

Which reminds me..... We have a long time dear friend who for many decades has been utterly incapable of saying the word, "calamari" = the squid eaten as food. Despite intellectually knowing the correct way to say it, she always says, "camelari", instead. I chalk it up to her mild "lysdexia", ... Oops, I mean "dyslexia"! Ha. Ha.

[MJCA in reply to ctarleton]

Thanks for placing things in perspective! I hope I have more time!

[treedown in reply to ctarleton]

My brother has been eating breafakst his whole life and it's the only word I can think of he gets wrong.

[Captsquid2u in reply to ctarleton]

My name on here is CaptSquid. Calamari!

[Hidden]

I had a total knee replacement with T <5.0. U would not think that it is a problem. However, there are a few specialists that should be read in. Orthopedic surgeon, Medical Oncologist, and, if you have one, Cardiologist. In my case, all three were on board.

GD

[shipoo in reply to Hidden]

That gives me confidence. I’ll talk to my doctors for their info. Thank you