Gynecomastia

[rfgh20]

Looking for opinions of best treatment for gynecomastia. I don't believe it goes away on its own after stopping ADT, agreed?

[Still_in_shock]

Once established......... surgery.

If early on, then radiation might work.

What ADT have you been on? How long?

[rfgh20 in reply to Still_in_shock]

Lupron and Zytiga. 20 month's. It's not horrible.

[JustAnotherCancer in reply to rfgh20]

You sure it’s not chest fat?

I thought I had it too, MO said lose weight!!

[VCinTx in reply to JustAnotherCancer]

I lost weight and my problem is much smaller.

[YYJguy in reply to Still_in_shock]

Radiation?? To the chest area? Nope!

[Tall_Allen]

Tamoxifen 20 mg can reverse it if used early enough.

[rfgh20 in reply to Tall_Allen]

29mg, not 10? Regimen? QD for how long?

[JustAnotherCancer in reply to Tall_Allen]

Would that be forever tamoxifen or until adt stopped?

[Tall_Allen in reply to Tall_Allen]

20mg QD, until reversed.

[Break60 in reply to Tall_Allen]

You can actually reverse man boobs? I got the girls (lol) after starting estradiol in 2019. So much better than other ADT types! How about SEs from tamoxifen? Don’t want to trade one issue for another! And at 80 man boobs don’t bother me !

[rfgh20 in reply to Break60]

if I see 80, I won't care either.😆

[Break60 in reply to rfgh20]

Gotcha! 👍I’m happy to be here!

[Tall_Allen in reply to Break60]

You can only reverse it before connective tissue has grown in. After 5 years, it may not be possible. A dermatologist may be able to destroy the extra breast tissue with cortisone injections. If not, it can be scraped away by a surgeon.

Tamoxifen pills may carry the same risks as estrogen pills - clotting. To prevent that, just like estrogen, using it as a transdermal preparation doesn't incur clotting.

[Break60 in reply to Tall_Allen]

I’m 6’3” and weigh 195 so I disguise my boobs pretty well.

[VHRguy in reply to Break60]

I have a decent pair myself, and feel the same way. I'm 66, my wife doesn't care, and I don't either. The surgical outcomes I've seen can be less aesthetically pleasing than one might hope. For me, they're just going to stay the way they are.

[NanoMRI]

Agreed, mine did not go away on its own. I had RT as prophylactic treatment before I started on bicalutamide and this did not prevent it. Instead of trying drugs and/or surgery I reduced body fat and worked with a trainer 3x a week for nine months. Not only did my breasts size significantly reduce my biceps and triceps look great.

[Don_1213]

You're saying this as if you don't like moobs?

[Still_in_shock in reply to Don_1213]

Maybe he idn't want to wear a bro!!!😇

[rfgh20 in reply to Still_in_shock]

Or a mansieere

[London441]

Lupron/abiraterone should not be causing Gynecomastia. How much fat are you carrying?

[fast_eddie in reply to London441]

Lupron alone caused my gynecomastia. Speak for yourself.

[London441 in reply to fast_eddie]

I understand. Question was for the OP.

[babychi]

Ours reduced significantly over time. He has lost 15kgs also. So seems partly due to being overweight.

[No_stone_unturned]

I just finished 4 days of radiation to the breast tissue and works wonders. Just don’t wait too long, there is a window. Consult a radiologist.

[GoBucks]

I just lost 20 pounds and my guys are accentuated. I don't care what anyone else thinks about how I look.

[Break60 in reply to GoBucks]

You go girl…. Man!

[GoBucks in reply to Break60]

Lol! Follow me for holiday Hallmark movie tips!

[Break60 in reply to GoBucks]

Little too soon , no?

[tarhoosier]

I had surgery during a 24 month off-treatment period. It was relatively easy and recovery was simple. A corset style restrictive garment was necessary for ~six weeks to prevent pooling of blood and support of tissue after treatment. Medicare paid for this as my oncologist at the time had indicated gynecomastia as a condition for several years prior to the treatment time. Ten years ago it would cost ~5k$ if it was private pay by the same doctor. I am glad I did it because my next on period saw an increase in breast size and if it had been in addition to what I had I would need surgery now but with greater tissue removal.

I would do it again. I am on Xtandi (1) 40mg/day as a reduced dose with maintenance of low psa and that is because if I went on a complete off treatment, with Testosterone circulating, then my next on treatment period would re-aggravate the issue.

I am 18 years out from diagnosis with surgery and many off periods and dose variations during that time. Also one oligomet radiated last year on spine, and prostate bed and pelvic nodes radiated in 2012. My oncologist (of the past 7 years) calls me his "outlier". I have "retired" two other oncologists. The one I have now is young enough that he will survive me, I hope.

[Mgtd]

Well I am in the 50/25/25club. Diet, Exercise and drugs for results.

I did the drug mentioned above and have been doing weights - dumbbells and bench presses everyday and other resistance work 6 days a week for 30 minutes.

I also lost 15 pounds due to diet and walking. Like NanoMRI, in addition I did a hour of brisk walking. I still do this routine 6 days a week. I have been doing this for 9 months. It worked for me on not only my chest but the rest of the body. Feel amazing. Some say exercise improves ability to fight the cancer too.

My RO was a freshly minted one and she was not really keen on the breast radiation treatment. Her experience in residency was kind of a crap shoot. So I went the old fashion way. Really glad I did.

It is not easy and takes dedication.

[Break60 in reply to Mgtd]

Good job! How old are you? No incontinence?

[Mgtd in reply to Break60]

Approaching 79 and no incontinence. Hate to say this but this cancer fostered my improved physical condition. I was getting flabby over the last couple of years or so. I had always been athletic my entire life.

[Break60 in reply to Mgtd]

Unfortunately my incontinence has made me quit working out. Any kind of straining exacerbates leakage !! I had been working out regularly before this shit happened. Plus I have peripheral neuropathy in my feet which has caused balance problems. Whole other health problem to deal with. 🙃

[Mgtd in reply to Break60]

Got to thinking yesterday about the stress incontinence issue and perhaps I can offer a solution in regards to weight training.

You may be aware there are two schools of thoughts in regards to building muscles. I classify the first as the traditional method of using heavy weights to muscle exhaustion. The second more modern approach is to use lighter weights. You might do some research in this area. Many UTube videos on this topic. To reduce stress incontinence issues I suggest the latter method.

In my case I use 10 to 15 pound dumbbells for many upper body exercises. For the chest area I do a 30 pound dumbbell on an angled rest. This has worked well. Of course you have to do more reps to get to exhaustion of the muscle you are working but it builds and maintains muscles. For the bench press I just use the bar without weights.

You may want to give this a try.

[rfgh20 in reply to Mgtd]

I've lifted for years. Haven't pushed getting stronger but benching 240 before ADT. 200 since. I was incidentally found to have an aortic root aneurysm so now it's all very light weights and lots of reps.. I think I look as string as ever but sure won't try it and risk aneurysm rupture.

[j-o-h-n]

Easy, just have them spin your head around 180 degrees..........

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[Break60 in reply to j-o-h-n]

I’m lucky to get 30 degrees these days!

[j-o-h-n in reply to Break60]

LOL........ I'm so grateful for my automobile rear view and side view mirrors....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[AlmostnoHope]

Work out. Bench press daily at least 5 sets 10 reps daily. Dumbell Flys, incline, decline press as often and as much as you can. There's no other way.

[Tommyj2 in reply to AlmostnoHope]

Clearly there IS another way or we would not have such varied responses re: success. But certainly can’t go wrong incorporating chest exercises.

[Derf4223]

I can't help but point out that marijuana use has been known to cause moobs. When you add ADT, you get even more...

[Cancer2x]

Geez….If I wasn’t born a boy, I wouldn’t have anything to play with! If I get Moobs, it will double my sex life! 😁

[sciaticaman]

I was on Lupron for 6 months. I had a lot of muscle atrophy and fatigue while on that drug. The boobs did not start until I had been off Lupron for about 6 months. I guess when you mess with your hormones it takes a while to adjust back to something more normal, if you ever do adjust. The breast growth started as some sensitive, slightly painful lumps and got bigger. They are now (year after Lupron) no longer sensitive or lumpy. They are not that big and my wife could care less (maybe because hers are bigger!). At 78 years old, I am not walking around with my shirt off much these days. Thankfully, I have regained my testosterone (well above castration levels) and am doing a lot of bench presses and other weight training. I am hoping to build more muscle on my body so if I have to go on Lupron again, I will have more muscle to work with and try to preserve through weight training when the testosterone hits zero again.

[OldVTGuy in reply to sciaticaman]

This is very helpful. I am 9 months off Lupron and suddenly I have tender nipples and a lump below one of them. I am only 62 and my T has not come all the way back yet so I am hopeful this is temporary. If not I will ask for options.

[garyjp9]

I'm enjoying shopping for my own bras these days. Lots of pretty ones out there.

[Ian99]

I got tender breasts and some growth after starting Bicalutamide. Tamoxifen reduced the tenderness. I stopped after 2-3 years. Still some growth but now there is bigger fish to fry.

[Ian99]

I got tender breasts and some growth after starting Bicalutamide. Tamoxifen reduced the tenderness. I stopped after 2-3 years. Still some growth but now there is bigger fish to fry.