April of 2018 I was diagnosed with stage 111 PC with a tumor against my rectum. Finally after 19 months of lupron and zytiga and 40 rounds of radiation my testosterone has hit 325. I do 3 month testing and it has held for 6 months. I can feel the difference and am not only doing more but my weight is falling off and glucose has a hard time going above 115. All good news obviously. A1C was 10.8 now 6.3.
I’m wondering if the natural return of testosterone has also caused the cancer to return for anyone. My psa had held at .04 up until I went over 250. At 300 it went to .12 and now back to .09.
I was always to afraid to take the supplement but the way I feel now makes me wish I had. I was told to by a couple very good doctors. Anyway the question of cancer returning when the testosterone returns is what I’m asking. The docs wanted me to push the T to around 300 and I’m there plus and not sure it’s going to stop. Haven’t talked to any of the doctors. Do you believe there is a relationship and should it be suppressed. Hate the thought.
Thanks for your input
Written by
lowT163
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
It is going well. If you count the year I was misdiagnosed (2017 ) I’m 6 years into the 8 to ten I was given in 2018 to live. Still hate the not knowing. This last 6 months is the first I’ve felt like my old self since my first Lupron shot in June of 2018.
lowT163 wrote -- " ... Still hate the not knowing ... "
Is there not a reason for the designations *CRPCa (Castration Resistant PCa) and HSPCa (Hormone Sensitive PCa) ???
Scans + PSA monitoring LIKELY will be the *Norm* as life continues, so IMO, if you can accept that scenario while putting the *WHAT IF* behind you, just grasp the Golden Ring that has appeared (rising T) and enjoy what is now. Make plans for the worse but enjoy the present.
I opted for surgical castration in 2015 and have been *on again/off again* with TESTOSTERONE replacement injections since 2016 by keeping track of PSA numbers. While ON T my number hits 1,600ng/dL yet I feel little changed when in the 500/600 range. Enjoy but remain vigilant.
I have a neighbor in exactly the same situation. He’s contemplating adding testosterone but your just enjoy isn’t good enough for him yet. He’s only 64 now and wants to keep it going. He is getting tired of a T of 15 but doing much better than I did.
It did indeed to me. Been 2.5 years undetectable, went on ADT holiday june 2022. By june 2023 testosterone was at 386 but PSA hit 5.8 (from 0.8 Nov 22, 1.6 Feb 23). Have to say it felt great, especially being able to think quick and sharp again :). Back on ADT now but very much looking forward to another holiday !
I took HCG for several months after completing 18 months of Lupron in 2020. T returned to over 600 in 7 months, undetectable since.
The HCG was proposed as a alternative to supplemental T outright. This appealed to me as I was eager for return of T but not to supplement.
My guess is that it would have simply taken longer if I’d not nudged the natural production.
How much do you exercise and what kind? It makes important differences in everything associated with return of T, preventing or delaying recurrence, A1C, and of course loss of the visceral fat and more.
I could not get anyone to prescribe it for me. My endocrinologist said no studies for what I wanted it to do. I took my first lupron shot in June of 2018. Last 4 months my T went over 300. Last one this month 351. Yea. I think a lot of my fatigue was high glucose levels before I started those diabetic drugs. Even at 6.7 until lately the testosterone was stuck at 150 plus. Exercise for me at the lower levels was minimal. Now everything is better. Average 20,000 plus steps a day working and walking the dog. Losing weight and a1c should be in the 5s with daily levels 90 to 115. I had a few 70s but that’s easy if you don’t eat. Attitude much better. Exercise is the key for sure.
What we should all be doing is exercising as much or more when on ADT. Most go the opposite way, which creates a brutal hole to crawl out of later even if and when T comes back. Waiting until T returns to crank up the exercise is a fool's errand IMO, but believe me I get it.
It was the biggest physical and psychological challenge of my life to hit the workouts hard on ADT. I think that beyond 'just doing it no matter what' is to manage expectations. Even with diligence nearly all of us will experience unwanted changes in body composition. Understanding that likelihood well in advance and damning the torpedoes is tough, but supremely worth it. It also helps T return faster and more completely.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
6-month Update: PSA down / Testosterone up
testosterone, following cancer, treatment with stable PSA
Testosterone Replacement after Prostate Cancer Treatment
Follow up treatment after radical prostectomy
