For those who have followed my remarkable 18 year journey with metastatic prostate cancer, new numbers are:
PSA, Total, 0.05
Testosterone, Free, 78.1
Testosterone, Total, MS, 1467
Estradiol, 62
Major benefit, by optimizing and balancing hormones, I have shed almost 60 pounds of visceral fat in six months. From a tight 48 waist relaxed fit Wranglers to a 40 regular cut. From a 3X to a XL shirt. My goal is to be able to wear size 36 in Greece and Turkey come November. Inches lost is the key; weight loss will come…….
I have discussed this with my medical oncologist several times and she understood what I was doing and concurred. She even reviewed Dr. Amato’s research file on me. Last month the conversation went as: “Your weight loss is outstanding. Did you know that Dr. Amato was a Vegan?” Yes, we discussed several times.
“I am a Vegan as well. Like most oncologists, I am very conservative. I know you have been without ADT since early 2010. However, I fear that you may wake up any remaining cancer cells. I would rather you explore Intermittent Fasting and a Vegan Diet. Please get a copy of Geiger’s book on How Not to Die.” Dr. Rowe, this is exactly why I insist on seeing you quarterly. I pay close attention to both PSA and T results. Between you, my Gastroenterologist, and my Cardiologist, I have blood work done every six weeks or so. If the PSA rises, then I’ll be first in line for ADT and whatever new silver bullets developed since 2004. I will buy Dr. Geiger’s book and read. Even at 75, I would consider giving up that which I love to eat.
The life of a guinea pig since 2004 goes on. I wish all well and success.
Good for you, and I'm delighted to hear your story. I've bought and given away probably fifty copies of HOW NOT TO DIE to encourage my friends and associates to consider reducing their animal protein intake, but as we all know, it's very difficult to expect men to make lifestyle changes past a certain age - maybe beyond twelve years old.
When I was diagnosed with CAD in 2015, I became a vegan. I lost over sixty pounds, reduced my cardiac blood test numbers below anything that my doctors had expected, and I'm still alive. Eventually, I had cardiac bypass surgery, and had I not been a vegan, it is my belief now that I would be long dead.
When I was diagnosed with PCa in 2019, I am also convinced that the vegan diet has influenced the slow progression of my PCa and kept me alive to pursue care that I hope will extend my life.
No, I do not have an RCTs to prove any of these assumptions. It is impossible to reliably measure these types of lifestyle change and how they affect the progression of complex diseases such as CAD, COPD, and PCa. But a good nutritional plan and staying in control of your weight helps combat these diseases that are trying to kill us.
Congratulations on what I consider “cure” from PCa, I really miss Dr. Amato and have not been able to find any new Oncologist that care, thought, and performed extraordinary treatments like he did. I have been on Zytiga for 4.5 years now and the last few quarterly visits have started to show rising PSA. A year ago, my PSA has begun rising from <0.05 to last week when it registered at 0.24
Wow - well done! I‘m vegan, too - precisely whole food plant based, whole wheat, no alcohol, no sugar, no oil. I believe in Dr. Greger, Barnard, Fuhrman as well.
Just ordered the book. On my own I have shed about 15 pounds by limiting carbs. I'll investigate what this book has to say. Really never had a weight issue 6'4", 213#.
I agree with intermittent fasting. It has been part of my routine for years. But I have had success with weight loss for nine years now, Dow over ninety pounds from when I practiced medicine. I now wear mens small underwear.My success was with a red meat, low carb diet, avoiding seed oils, an ancestral ketovore diet, wild caught fish.
I am in remission with undetectable psa, never higher that .02 after prostatectomy. Three years out since start of adt and zytiga.
When I gave up all grains in 2013, my autoimmune thyroiditis went away.
I have maintained a serum level of vitamin d of at least 45 ng /ml since 2013,
Which prevents respiratory infections including Covid 19 and the flu.
If you go vegan you have to worry about vitamins D, A, and K2 and B12.
Suggest you read the exvegan forum on Reddit or Lierre Keith’s The Vegetarian
Myth.
I love my food. I have red meat every day, wild fish too. Oh yes, I have reversed diabetes as well.
In the winter I supplement with 5000u D3 daily. In the summer I sunbathe around solar noon to get about the same dose or more. I use the software D Minder to give me estimate of dose.I don’t worry about sunburn or skin cancer since 2013 when I became a seed oil avoider.
I check my D levels at least once a year.
This year I changed supplements and now take ADK which adds A and K2 to the same dose of D.
I now aim for a serum level of 50- 60 for optimal protection for Covid. I remain unvaccinated.
I have finished my two years of Lupron and Zytiga a year ago. Since prostatectomy, I have not had a psa above 0.02.
I maintain a Ketovore diet cantered around red meat and wild caught fish.
I pressure cook chilli or other recipes which have vegetables to kill the lectins.
Since I retired from medicine almost twenty years ago I have lost a hundred pounds and wear mens small for most things.
The only prescription medicine I am on is maximum dose Metformin and my A1c had remained wnl.
Congrats, Gourd_Dancer!!! Wonderful update...I hope there are many more to come! Also, I hope you have an incredible time in Greece an Turkey this fall!
Amazing! I actually practice starvation. I will be first in line when you write a book. j-o-h-n has an excellent picture of a gourd that you can use on the front page.
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