Anyone in this foum had an actual Orchiectomy?I have been thinking about having this done. I'm 78 and I'm or hormone therapy which in chemical castration (Orchiectomy)so why not do the actual thing. I'm not going to have any more children at my age and I will probably be on hormone therapy for the next 4 years or more so why not. Now I know there's no coming back from this. I'm tired of fighting this crap, been fighting it for going on 11 years. I have been putting off chemo aand radiation because I have seen what it does to my friends with prostate cancer and I just do not wish to live like they are.
If anyone has had an Orchiectomy could you tell me how you feel, how long ago it was done and do you regret having it done. It certainly cannot be any worst then how I feel on chemical castration.
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That's great that you look on it that way. It must have been a tough decision. I would struggle with it at 67 (and have never considered it, even as I've read others' positive feedback). Just a mental thing, I guess.
I had an orchiectomy in march (65 yo). No regrets. There is no cure from this horrible disease in the foreseeable future. Nothing is coming in the US in the next ten years that I can see. My prostatectomy eliminated any chance of normal sex. So for me, they served no purpose. I occasionally and rarely get a hot flash.
Also wondering if this helps any symptoms from taking Lupron such as brain fog. Or is this just because of the lack of T? i am getting a referral to a uro to discuss this. I have been on ADT for five years and the "boys" will never come back. I'm thinking it's a real option.
Other than Orgovyx which is a daily oral dose all other methods of primary ADT are either Lupron or Firmagon. Firmagon is injected monthly and Lupron can be monthly or 3/6 month depot injections. I was diagnosed in May 19 and started Firmagon injections in Jun 19. Since then I stopped Firmagon in Feb 2022. I regret that I didn't have Orchiectomy done sooner. I had a PSA of 250 and a Gleason of 5/5 and SV so I should have expected a relapse after radiation. At least it was high probability. Firmagon caused pain and fever which spoilt 2 or 3 days when I was under the weather. Multiply that by almost 27 months and I lost 81 days!! Apart from a weeks discomfort after the procedure - I was mobile but limited mobility. Couldn't play golf for 6 days. I have had no side effects like hot flashes. Whatever weakness or fatigue I experience is caused by loss of muscle for which I exercise regularly. I think it is a sensible thing to do as there is no running away from the fact that this disease is not getting cured with any magic pill soon. I had my Orchiectomy under local anesthesia and though there was discomfort it wasn't so painful that I wish I had taken a general anesthesia.
I had Orchiectomy a little over a year ago(age 63), I had metastasis to bone and lymph node so I knew I would be on ADT for life so it was a no brainer of a decision. No regrets. I feel like I have less hot flushes, though it might be a coincidence.
In January of 2021 I was diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 64 with a PSA of 248, local spread to lymph nodes and Gleason scores of 9-10 on all cores. The choice of treatment between orchiectomy or ADT for life not difficult for me. The operation was done on an outpatient basis. I took 1 1/2 days off work and otherwise had to be a bit careful about lifting for a week or two.
Now 2 1/2 years later I have had no further treatment. Hot flashes are a minor annoyance but that is all the side effects I have experienced. My PSA reached a nadir of 0.43 about a year post surgery. Now it is 2.27 and slowly rising. I expect to start on abiraterone in 6-12 months.
Overall I feel great. I still work full time and ride my bike on a regular basis. My strength has probably diminished a bit but I attribute that as much to aging as to the orchiectomy. I have no regrets at all over my treatment choice.
My husband just had an orchiectomy on 8-8-21. He had a very small amount of pain the day of the surgery and the day after. He never needed to take any pain medications, not even Tylenol.
The surgeon said not to lift anything over 10 pounds, golf or use any lawn equipment for 3 weeks. That has been the hardest part for him.
He's glad that he did it and can at least avoid taking Lupron (Eligard). He also takes abiraterone and prednisone.
I am so happy the surgery has turned out so well. I thought it would turn out well, but surgery is surgery, and it’s scary and none of us like going through it. So happy for both of you!
I had mine a year ago at 61. Stage IV on diagnosis, post chemo and radiation, on Abiraterone and prednisone, for life per my oncologist. I didn't understand getting a chemical injected to prevent testosterone production when a simple procedure eliminated that step. I do have some hot flashes but fairly mild. When I do have a real hot flash it's noticeable, because they are not common.
April 2015 almost 65yo my boys left town. Fastest 10 pound loss of weight in my life. Pathologist reported that *10 pounds of balls can indeed fit in a 5 pound sack.* 😀
Yes 3 years ago, at 72 now 75 and have no regrets. PSA from 3500 yes 4 digits to less than 1 now. ED apparently but can’t say that is related to orchiectomy, the interest has gone lol. I preferred surgery to the chemicals in pills or radiation
I had an orchiectomy right away (amost 7 years ago). I cannot compare it to chemical castration, but I’m super glad I did it. I think the side effects are less than the chemical route. For one thing, research shows I have less osteoporosis by 25%. For another, it’s a one time cost. And then it’s DONE.
The procedure itself is quick and simple. Not much worse than a vasectomy. The IDEA of it is much worse than anything else. Since you’re already castrated chemically, it won’t be too much of a shock.
My only regret is not starting Estradiol patches right after the Orchiectomy. Folks who do that tend NOT to become castration resistant. I’m on the patches now (5 years after the orchiectomy) and all my mets have shrunk a LOT. My prostate is almost back to normal size, to the extent that I no longer need a catheter. Plus I can enjoy sexual feelings once again.
Like you, I do not want chemo and the rest of it. I’m not a guinea pig. I plan on getting my doctor to put me on full hormone replacement therapy (with estradiol shots or implant). My quality of life with female hormones is vastly better than with no hormones. Oddly, I feel like a man again.
Wondering if you know of any studies supporting estrogen patches in slowing progression to castration resistance? I’ve been considering the patches as a means to decreasing hot flashes, but not sure if that’s a good idea. Extending the time to CR would definitely make it more attractive to try.
I have not seen any patches / CR studies, but there are a fair number of men who have done Estradiol prior to becoming CR and then never became CR. So correlation, but no causation that I know of. I figure it cannot hurt. And I feel so much better. Check with your doc and see if there’s any real downside.
Since 2016 following completion of initial treatment my Dr. prescribed biweekly Testosterone (Cypionate) Injections even being a GL10 but confined. *T* > 1,600ng/dL would follow injection then down to 450/600 range before next injection. When PSA > 2.0 scans done and *T* halted. In 2018 had a recurrence of GL6 and GL7 spots in left half of remaining prostate so IRE performed and after PSA reduced I went back on *T* injections.
Since then I have had PSA fluctuations and have exercised my own BAT protocol of ON/OFF/ON/OFF etc injections. Right now I have been OFF *T* injections due to a rise in PSA and will have BLOOD WORK on Thursday to check numbers. PSA has been declining since discontinuation of *T* and with good results of T < 2.5ng/dL and PSA < .1 showing I'm still hormone sensitive the good times of being a Unique Eunuch will be back. Endurance/no side effects should result and looking to complete a 100 mile bicycle ride on the 31st. for a FULL MOON RIDE.
Will continue playing the game and see how life progresses.
I'm glad for you! But I thought that whether it was Orch or ADT, sexual feelings were a thing of the past.
I'm on ADT, and I've learned the difference between feeling horny and having desires. But if I can get that horny feeling back again I'd go for an Orch 👍
Do you know if you just got lucky, or have I been mistaken?
My orchiectomy killed all desire and sexual feeling. My estradiol patches brought back sexual feelings and desire. The patches also shrunk my mets and prostate, so I was able to stop using an indwelling Foley catheter. No catheter also lead to more sexual feelings and desire as it was more practical.
Bottom line: an orchiectomy by itself is a super boner killer. The patches brought me back. All my blood markers improved as well.
I will assume you are asking about gynecomastia with regard to using estradiol patches.
With my current dosage of estradiol, I have grown breasts. B cups. I wouldn’t call that gynecomastia. They are sensitive to the touch. I have to be careful not to knock them around, and I walk around the freezer section of the grocery store, but I have NO PROBLEM with them. They are a smaller, less pronounced version of female breasts, and I decided to like them. Much easier that way. My wife has no problem with them either. I’m still very much her husband.
Looking for some help please. I am having an Orchiectomy in March, l have no metastases to date, but have been on Adt Zoladex on and off since 2013, l was told by my uro two months ago that l had become CR as psa had risen but testosterone was going down. Saw Onco did scans still no mets anywhere was put on Enzalutimide 160mg causing hypertension etc., reduced to 120mg, now on BP meds) the last 2 injections of Zoladex are causing A fib. I was hoping you could tell me what E patches you are on, dosage etc., as l want to use these also, but when l mentioned them to Uro and Onc they didn't appear interested. My objective is to add back the estrogen that depletes along with the testosterone. l noticed you mentioned you took the Patch to help with bone loss etc., and avoid becoming CR. Would you say that this would be a waste of time for me seeings l became CR anyway. I want to eliminate all these drugs with all the side effects. Just a bit confused on this CR question.
Appreciate your imput thanks on Super Bowl day even though l am in Canada love a good game.
Orchiectomy is good decision IMO. Less side effects and less bone loss compared to chemical castration—according to research papers and my own experience. But downside: absolutely no testosterone.
Patches (estradiol or E2) help with the no T situation. My body seems to like E2 just fine. IOW, it seems to make a good enough substitute for testosterone. The side effects are not so bad. I stopped feeling like a eunuch once I started patches.
Some folks like us have gotten out of the CR merry-go-round with E2 patches. No guarantee and this is NOT highly researched because there’s no money for research given big pharma funding research cycle. Maybe that situation is better in Canada.
Dosage-wise, I maxed out at four 0.1 mil patches twice a week. Talk to your uro or pcp about E2 and your heart. I switched to self injections to save money after a year. E2 pills are often hard on the liver and such, so they’re not so good.
Hope all that is helpful in some way. Keep on rockin’ in the free world, brother!
Hey AgainI am going ahead with my Orchiectomy next week, your information was very useful but one last question if l may, did you find after depletion of your testosterone and the add on patch did you replenish some of your energy, l am suffering great fatigue, now taking into account l had my last adt shot a month ago, so that has to clearout of my system and my testosterone is now 00.02 (zilch) ( l am longing to not have to continue with chemical s---t. My Gp is great but has a few reservations but tentativily agreed to 0.25 patch if MO is ok with it, ( see him Friday)he is pretty open minded but its my decision in the long run, if anything l have learned from all of this journey is have all the ammunition (education and research gathered, ready when approaching the white collars.
I’m 80, diagnosed PCa Nov 17, decided to have no treatment. Two months ago a bone showed 3 metastases in the pelvic area and L2 spine.
I hate medication because I seem to react to them so badly. Therefore, I also opted for an orchiectomy 3 months ago.
Research showed that a way of ameliorating an “menopausal” symptoms was to lift weights and cardio. I’ve done that for some years but now I take it really seriously.
So far I haven’t noticed any symptoms. BTW, the operation was a bilateral subcapsular so quite frankly you can hardly tell any difference. Scrotum slightly tighter. I did ask before the op. 😂
Here in my part of the UK they offer both; you choose. My surgeon recommended it because afterwards your pouch feels very much like normal. I did ask if they replaced the balls with marbles. He laughed saying there’s no need. He was right. They only take out the insides “sub”. Neat 1” incision.
I had it done a few years ago at age 57 and had an inflatable put in at the same time…I’m glad I did it and wish I had done it years prior. I did not like the effects of Lupron and had hot flashes like I was an 50 yo woman going through menopause and mood swings like a teenage girl. But after the procedure, everything lined out and I don’t experience any of that anymore
Hy Woppa, im 75 and got castrated three years ago. My twins were inflammated and half dead after an ladder crash. My baggy is empty now - and whats matter? In opposite: on the bicycle its an advantage and very comfortably! The removal will be always better than to swallow over many years any chemicals! Your kidneys and liver will be gratefully, believe me. No chemicals will be without byeffects!
I had mine a year ago and it was wonderful to get off Lupron. I had been on 3 month dose for 7 years and was going crazy. Now that I'm on nothing except Pluvicto I feel great -- still hot flashes but more like warming up to sweat and then gone, not the sudden "I'm melting" of old.
It was offered at the beginning but as I was only give 5 years, in 2014, I gave it a pass. Should have done it then.
FourString wrote -- " Unfortunately, orchiectomy does not change vocal range .... "
Maybe for you but when I was waking in recovery the nurse asked me, "How are you feeling sweety?" to which I replied "Very well thank you" in an Octave higher than I had ever been able to reach. 😱
The problem with the procedure is everyone I know who has had one failed as the Prostate Cancer Cells make their own resistant testosterone thus making the procedure futile.
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