My Father have prostate cancer and takes the medicine Zytiga. I take Creatine Monohydrate to combat my Rheumatoid Arthritis since it is very anti-inflammatory.
I've read online that many take creatine to help fight cancer since it boosts and helps the immune system. My Dad asked his nurse if he could take creatine and her answer was that it's "safest to stay away from all dietary supplements".
I consider this a "non-answer". Maybe she just doesn't know and felt it safer to give this answer. Creatine is produced by the body and we ingest it when eating food so it should be totally safe is my thought.
Do anyone here know if Creatine is safe when taking Zytiga? Any help or links are highly appreciated.
Sorry for any bad English since it isn't my native language.
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I have been using it for years with approval of my MO. I however use it with a weight lifting program and other supplements for muscle growth. Ask your MO. Not sure of any cancer benefits
BUT, have you been using it while taking Zytiga is the question! I love Creatine and think everyone should take it! It's the combination of Zytiga and Creatine I'm asking about, have you done that or have any info about it?
Thank you for your answer! Seven years with Zytiga and Creatine and after looking at your profile it looks like your in good shape and healthy!
This might be a stretch...but. Would it be possible for me to get an email to your Doctor that approved the use of Creatine while taking Zytiga? If it isn't I totally understand! Dad is visiting his Doc again soon for more tests soon and will ask him then. It might be helpful if I/we could have an answer via email from your Doc answering that it is ok and why it is ok to combine Zytiga and Creatine.
My Dad has lost 30+% of his muscle mass since going on Zytiga and is feeling really weak and low on energy which is why he wants to start taking Creatine once I told him about it. My Mom is kinda hesitant about it because of the "non-answer" one uninformed nurse gave us.
Don't expect doctors to be enthusiastic or even much informed regarding the use of supplements. I take supplements for my heart, brain, and to suppress prostate cancer. I inform my doctors of every supplement I take but I don't ask for permission to take them.
Approx 10% of testosteone is turned into DHT by the enzyme 5alpha reductase DHT is the driver of prostste cancer and male hair loss
And Creatine increases DHT ?
If your Dad is on a drug to block all testosterone why would you give him a suppliment that goes against that ?
Also if your Dad has prostate cancer it's not a good idea for you to take creatine which will increase your DHT and your chances of developing prostate cancer
You should try a phytoestrogen instead for your arthritis and to prevent prostate cancer
I get arthritis if I don't take a potent phytoestrogen called Aguaje
My MO approved of its use and other body building supplements. I am not one to micromanage my cancer with all these different natural things, didn't work for either parent when dying of cancer
That is unfortunate. He is one person on YouTube. If you get your medical advice from there, that is also unfortunate. Here is some actual info on the subject.
Read through the whole thing. Especially the part about the DHT myth based on one study that no one has been able to replicate is good info that I will pass on to my Dad.
The massive amount of myths in nutrition and health is what got me interested in these topics 30+ years ago. I still find it fascinating and frustrating trying to convince people parroting myths in these topics and how hard it is to convince them they're wrong.
"It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled." — Mark Twain
Come back in 10 years time and tell us how well you did on creatine - creatine increases 5alpha reductase which converts free testosterone into DHT which drives prostate cancer
If it was my Dad I would give him estrogen patches if available or a potent phytoestrogen.
I follow the science. Back up your claims by linking to peer reviewed research that proves what you're saying. If not it's just your opinion and I don't care about other peoples opinions.
That is what I've also read. This myth is still going strong and spreading like wildfire online, especially in Youtube comments, even in the comments for videos explaining why this is a myth. It's kinda crazy!
Yes, it's like for every alternative treatment being promoted by an alternative promoter, there's another alternative promoter shooting it down and promoting something different.
You keep writing about Phytoestrogens and Aguaje. You keep posting about your opinion and ignoring to read or respond to research so.
Phytoestrogens isn't the same as estrogens, they are often confused since one is bad and one is good. I've been plant based for 13 years so naturally know about this since my biggest interest for 30+ years have been nutrition and health.
I never heard of this Aguaje you talk about before, but, it's just one online search away. Aguaje contains vitamin A, C and E. Maybe it contains more micronutrients, I don't know, I read the first sentences on the first search result.
I bet you a Million $ that you don't know which of those vitamins are water soluble and which are fat soluble and why that is a good or bad thing or which one is what.
I further bet that you don't know what the difference between RDI, ODI and TDI is and why this is important.
I went to Uni for five years but have spent more than 3-4 the time studying nutrition and health on my own for 30+ years.
When it comes to micro nutrients Vit. C and Niacin are extremely useful for fighting Rheumatoid Arthritis (which I have, and take no medications for). I only mention this since you questioned it.
Regarding the use of high....super high, doses of Vitamin C and Niacin to combat Rheumatoid Arthritis it is based on research stretching back to the 1930s or 1940s by Abraham Hoffer and more and Also Linus Pauling. Linus Pauling is the only person who has ever gotten awarded the Nobel Prize twice without sharing with some one else (which is common) and he was also a contemporary colleague of Albert Einstein.
Linus took high doses of Vitamin C and Niacin for decades and lived healthy to almost 100.
I take 20-25 grams (not micrograms) of Vitamin C and 4-5 grams of Niacin per day and have been doing that for 6-7 years. Your Aguaje cant hold a candle to that.
I could post numerous links here for you to read...but why would I? You clearly have no interest in that. Your main focus seems to be to tell everyone here that they are wrong and you are right.
You provide no links or facts just, anecdotes and your "opinion".
I would be cautious too. I am wondering the same about DHEA. Is taking it a bad idea if you have prostate cancer? I think this link provides the answers. It increase testosterone. It isn't good for anyone battling prostate cancer and trying to suppress testosterone.
I don’t take it and stopped in the meantime all supplements. Even under Lupron I was able to redevelop muscle mass with very disciplined weight lifting. It takes some time, but it works.
Good for you. You are the exception that proves the rule. Creatine is like a benign form of TRT for people who want to maximize their gains at the gym. There are many other supplements that claim to be difference makers too, of course. None are guaranteed to be safe.
Tell people something makes building muscle easier and they will buy it. Guys on ADT are naturally even more susceptible that most. The truth is these products mostly only enhance effort, not that much, and sometimes at a cost beyond price.
I didn’t mean that literally. It’s a product that draws people to it as a muscle building enhancer. Clearly it doesn’t have the abuse potential and possible consequences of testosterone.
You don't any understanding of what I'm saying. I think the misunderstanding is that I didn't make a distinction between men who take testosterone to enhance their normal levels in order to get stronger and those who use it as replacement for naturally low T, age induced low T, or of course loss from ADT.
Regardless, the law of drugs always applies; if you replace something the body produces naturally, it will eventually lose it's ability to do so. The person (typically younger) using it in high doses for enhanced sports performance, vanity etc will pay that particular price, among others, if they continue for long.
On the other hand, those using it to overcome the aforementioned effects of low T can establish normal levels safely. However this will still, over time, result in the body losing its capacity to produce it. Many older men getting TRT obviously have no problem with this, which I understand. Men with advanced prostate cancer getting TRT is another story, and a controversial area-caveat emptor.
This is why creatine is relatively safe (benign) if one sets aside the DHT folklore.
That's right, in your opinion...without providing any actual facts whatsoever. Link research! You have responded multiple times about your "opinion" here without any facts or backed up research. We get it...you have an opinion....
We started taking creatine (and EAAs) after weight lifting sessions a year ago to help with muscle recovery. There are articles about your body producing less as you age. We take a minimal amount and was 2-3x per week. I found I am less sore after lifting when I take it . But yes on this site reading about how it may impact prostate cancer which hubs has I have been reluctant to continue it for him.
Like YouTube, this site does have some excellent information. It also has plenty of rumor, mansplaining, confirmation bias and observational studies of 1. There is virtually no reliable data supporting the unsafe use of creatine.
If we’re going to toss around theories, one of mine is that if positive effects of creatine are real (they are), then they inspire men with our disease to lift more.
Statistically around 65% of those with a cancer diagnosis don’t exercise regularly at all, much less lift. Therefore it is surely worth risking the rise in DHT that creatine supposedly causes- if it helps men to stick with the critically important, underrated and underutilized tool of weight training.
Particularly considering the blatantly flawed data supporting such claims.
The benefit of exercise is talked of a lot, but its cancer fighting properties are only beginning to be discovered. If you are really afraid of your husband’s use of creatine , by all means stop him.
If he’s like me he will do what his wife says, since she continues to be correct at a truly impressive rate. I do encourage you to look at better level evidence than the posters here.
Thanks I did think it’s been beneficial but comments here were worrisome. Like a lot of things we produce less as we age. The beneficial change in muscle recovery was noticeable and made it more enjoyable to go knowing I wouldn’t be so sore afterward. It’s tough enough to maintain muscle mass at this age. We are hardly gym rat bro’s!!
Following that link is a good read indeed! There's also tons of studies about how good resistance training is for the immune system and boosting the immune system to fight cancer.
Creatine further boosts the immune system and is an excellent combination with resistance training to counter the loss of muscle mass that comes with taking Zytiga since it blocks Testosterone. Creatine does not make the body produce more DHT. I feel like I would need to repeat that sentence 100 times...but it would be a waste of time..
I didn't think I would post as much as I have in this thread...but there is one persistent poster here that rubs me the wrong way...
The internet is a fascinating place for sure.
Thank you for the links and your experience/knowledge London441 and mrscruffy!
I can’t believe that I’m an exception. When starting Lupron I wasn’t aware of weight lifting and I lost almost all my muscles. Then I started weight lifting and it was so painful, I even couldn’t lift 2kg 12 times in three sets. Over time and with consistency muscles came back. But it took more than a year. Just stay tuned.
Good for you dude! Whatever is an improvement is a good thing!
My Dad is 87, so almost 20 years older than you, and he is withering away muscle wise so we (me and him) are looking into any possible advantages to be had.
You and him are indeed both born 1936. You seem like a mellow, cool dude just like my Dad. If he only could speak English, I bet you and him would have a thing or two to talk about!
This is of interest to me as the scientific literature is consistent in creatine monohydrate being one of the few proven workout supplements, caffeine being another one. I don't use it as since getting on hormone treatment (about 13 months ago) I have been able to gain muscle mass and strength with no other supplements than basic nutrition and making sure I get enough protein. But as I age I want to keep an eye on all the tools to support me.
Anyway, there was a paper from researchers in China cautioning against use of creatine for prostate cancer, but this was only using mouse models. I can't find the link, but it was no smoking gun.
There is a new clinical trial investigating the use of creatine for metastatic prostate cancer patients. The idea is to see how it may help such patients combat muscle loss. I'm guessing the researchers aren't worried about creatine promoting cancer.
Yes, looks to be ongoing. The Aussies should be sooner with their results since they started earlier! I looked online, but to my knowledge they haven't published anything yet.
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