What does this mean?

[Mgtd]

In preparation for my six month follow up to radiation and two months since the end of 6 months of Lupron on Thursday I got my blood work results via the portal. For the first time ever I went to the portal for the lab and pulled up my results. Maybe I should not have done that. So I would like your thoughts on the results. Based on what I have read regarding testosterone recovery time, it does not make sense to me.

My Testosterone was 233 prior to this it was < 7 and my PSA was <0.01. Does this new result seem possible. The PSA is valid considering I had the same result on my annual just a month ago.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[Mike1971]

Ho Mgtd,

Could it perhaps be that you are looking at testosterone levels in two different units? 7 nmol/L is the same as 202 ng/dl.

Normal testosterone levels for 50+ y/o in nmol/L is between 6,7 - 26.

Great PSA btw 👍

[Mgtd in reply to Mike1971]

Thank Mike

Only reference I have for the testosterone level was a number not how it was measured. Baseline was 684 and then the two numbers mentioned previously.

[Mgtd in reply to Mgtd]

Mike looks like it was ng/dl on the latest one. I do not have a hard copy of previous ones to compare the units to. I only have the number. Bummer. Less learned on that one.

[Mike1971 in reply to Mgtd]

As far as I know it can take a long time for testosterone to come back after ADT (for some it never does). Not sure if it’s correct, but I’ve heard it can take longer than the time spent on ADT.

I was on ADT for two years and got my latest lupron shot in January 2023 and stopped zytiga in July 2023, and could feel my testosterone coming back in august.

[Mgtd in reply to Mike1971]

Your experience with recovery of T and mine seem to mirror each other. Interesting.

[Tall_Allen]

It will recover when and if it recovers. Sometimes it is slow.

[Jack54 in reply to Tall_Allen]

The words “if” and “slow”. I’m hoping slow in my case. My last 6-months Lupron shot was June 6, 2021. As of December 16, 2023, my T is 67 ng/dL. I’m still hoping for the word “slow”.

[Mgtd in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks TA. I was surprise in 2 months that the T went from 0 to 233. MO ordered a blood draw two days latter then RO and I just got the results which was 199.

[treedown in reply to Mgtd]

When I stopped ADT and Zytiga after initial treatment my T was back to baseline in 3 months. Unfortunately, in my case, the cancer came back with it.

[Mgtd in reply to treedown]

Well I hope that is not true in my case. How long after T recovery did it take to return? Do you have under control now?

[treedown in reply to Mgtd]

Maybe 3 more months. My last PSA was .05. I'll know my current standing by the end of the month.I hope it's not true in your case as well. Good luck.

[vintage42]

"... two months since the end of 6 months of Lupron... My Testosterone was 233 prior to this it was < 7 ... . Does this new result seem possible. "

Last August my testosterone was 122. I started Orgovyx 4 weeks ago and now it is <3, which surprised me, too. I guess that shows the ADT is working to deprive androgen. It sounds like you just stopped ADT and were hoping for a faster testosterone rebound, but Lupron takes months.

[Mgtd in reply to vintage42]

SomI heard about slow recovery but I may be an on the other end of slow recovery. I almost in the low normal range after two months.

I am not probably not the only one so there is hope for others.

As I said above I believe diet and physical condition are key plus this forum made me aware to get baseline testing in testosterone and bones which allows me to measure my progress and make adjustments to fix any issues early.

[SteveTheJ]

My testosterone was 400 before treatment and my most recent test was 7. My PSA has been unmeasurable for 3+ years.

[Mgtd in reply to SteveTheJ]

Thanks for reply. Reading you bio I hope you found a support group.

Do you exercise and are you still taking ADT?

[SteveTheJ in reply to Mgtd]

This is my support group. ADT yes; I temporarily stopped Lupron in October fully expecting I'll go back on it at some point. Exercise is something that's kind of touchy so I'll just say this: at the moment I'm struggling with back pain not related to cancer so I'm not doing anything but physical therapy on that.

My advice is: if you were a weight-pumping muscle maniac before cancer, you'll continue with that and good luck. If you were more of a couch potato, don't start a physical fitness routine without the advice of a trained physical therapist (e.g., someone who's had osteopath or other type of more advanced training). Don't get a personal trainer because they'll just try and get you "big" or "in shape". Starting fitness without help is asking for injury.

[Mgtd]

Steve really sorry to hear of your compounding back issues. My wife is in the same boat and I under stand how debilitating that can be. I am actually the care giver for her.

Thanks for the advice. I am far from a “gym rat” but I have always been in good shape so the resistance training transition forced by cancer was a natural fit for me and I have developed my own routine which I identify more as being more muscle toning then really truly muscle building.