While my research has continued, my oncologist has nothing to give me within the SOC to keep the PSA in check.
Now I've witnessed another unwelcome visitor: facial hair (it only took me 70 yrs to start shaving....) Joking aside however, that means the T is on the rise.
I know that some warriors have used Estradiol patches and I wonder if anyone had any suggestions. Would the patch help with lowering T?
My wife uses them for HRT, I thought I might as well join her.....
Any side effects, and can they be bought over the counter?
Written by
CrocodileShoes
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Hi Croc. Good question. It's important to distinguish between high-dose Estradiol as "ADT replacement" and low-dose Estradiol as "estrogen add-back". Here is a collection of notes on this topic - you will probably want to read up and down each thread to catch what's going on.
I am told (from reliable sources) that gynecomastia (breast growth) is pretty much certain unless you take radiation to the breasts (just one zap on each side). Also, some nipple/breast tenderness may be expected. But I THINK that may be transient.
There are oncologists in the U.S. who will prescribe the dosages required to keep testosterone levels down. But it is not SoC (Standard of Care) in the U.S., so good luck finding one. There are some guys on inspire.com and here on healthunlocked.com who could give you names and contact information.
I don't imagine your wife's dosage would be sufficient to lower your testosterone enough to affect the cancer.
I was diagnosed in April with prostate cancer (no evidence of metastasis yet) and had prostatectomy in October 2023. PSA is rising ever since. 1.33, 1.79, 2.1 2.49 so am bound for ADT (Androgen Deprivation Therapy) for sure and probably radiation. But I am lobbying the Veteran's Administration and my Oncologist for TDE (TransDermal Estrogen).
The book, "Androgen Deprivation Therapy - An essential guide for prostate cancer patients and their loved ones" was written by (lead author) Richard J Wassersug who has been on estradiol for 20 years. Be sure to get the third edition, it was updated for the latest information on TDE.
I also speculate that estrogen has as-yet undocumented effects on prostate cancer. I look forward to the publication of the PATCH trial results.
There are MANY references reporting preliminary results.
In 1941-42 it was discovered that estrogen is an effective controller for prostate cancer and it won a Nobel Prize in 1966 for Dr Huggins. But oral dosing goes through the liver and induces CVT (Cardio-Vascular Thrombosis) in a significant number of patients, so was abandoned when other castration drugs were developed. However TDE goes through the skin and bypasses the digestive system and liver and does not produce CVT. But it has yet to be adopted as Standard of Care (SoC) in the U.S. But, as I mentioned earlier, some oncologists are using it here.
Good luck. And wish me luck getting it for myself.
they lower T big time and you lose some body hair and your boobs grow. You don’t turn into a woman but you need to exercise to keep up your strength . You do lose libido .
I already have man boobs, and libido is a distant memory. But as I failed ADT, I wonder if the patches would work? And how do I get them when they're not approved on the NHS?
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.