Tenderness in breasts

[Wolfee53]

I was diagnosed with advanced Prostate Cancer in January of 2021. I was on eligard and zitiga for 2 years with successful results. I have been on a vacation for the last 23 months. In the last few months I've developed a soreness in my breast. My oncologist said it's from the testosterone blockers, nothing to worry about. Has anyone else had any experience with this issue?

[rickyfish56]

I was on Lupron for 6 months during my radiation treatments and after, treated for Bio-chemical reoccurance of Prostate Cancer.My breast nipples have been very sensitive and tender in last year.

Had my annual Dermatologist checkup, Dr. Checked my breasts very carefully, could find nothing.

Then had my Onocologist Check up, this Dr. also carefully checked for any signs of lumps, problems, found nothing.

Even though my testostrone had jumped back up to normal range after Lupron, my breasts are bigger than before all this started, not a lot, but noticeable to me.

At first, I thought, wow, my casual bench pressing weights is really developing my chest muscles!

No, LOL!

Dr's said it may be from my short time on Lupron, and possibly the natural aging process?

So, didnt really get a definitive answer, but evidentlly not something to worry about?

Would appreciate any other perspectives on this interesting issue?

[Gabby643 in reply to rickyfish56]

Gynecomastia

[Justfor_]

Typical if you are on antiandrogens like lutamides. It leads to gynaecomastia and originates from the mis-balance of estrogen vs testosterone in men. Tamoxifen is a drug commonly used for blocking the estrogen excess.

[dhccpa in reply to Justfor_]

The OP wasn't on lutamides, though, was he? At least, I wasn't aware that either eligard or AA was a lutamide. I've only had a few Eligard shots over six years, much more Lupron.

[Tall_Allen]

Tamoxifen (10 mg/day) can clear that up and prevent the growth of breasts. A tamoxifen gel can be made by compounding pharmacies (which would not have potential clotting side effects).

[dhccpa in reply to Tall_Allen]

Is it better to radiate preemptively or just use Tamoxifen if needed? I've heard it both ways.

[Tall_Allen in reply to dhccpa]

Tamoxifen is superior to breast radiation.

[gjk59 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Can tamoxifen reverse breast growth?

[Tall_Allen in reply to gjk59]

If it hasn't gone on too long. 10mg for maintenance, 20 mg for reversal.

[gjk59 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks TA. I will discuss with my Oncologist next week when I see her.

[Tall_Allen in reply to gjk59]

You may want to email her this before the meeting so she has a chance to look at it:

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/225...

Here are some compounding pharmacies that can make up a transdermal gel for you to rub on your chest:

defymedicalstore.com/570-emp

empowerpharmacy.com/compoun...

bayviewrx.com/formulas/Tamo...

[gjk59 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks for all your assistance. I will let her know. We have a compounding pharmacy in our home town in Canada, perhaps they can make it.

[gjk59 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Is the transdermal gel more effective than oral doses?

[Tall_Allen in reply to gjk59]

It's less likely to cause blood clots than pills.

[gjk59 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Great to know ... I am already on an anti-clotting agent (Lixiana), . As always, thanks.

[Wolfee53 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Does it seem odd the pain in the breast area under the ripple didn't start until about 18 months after I stopped taking Zytiga and Eligard?

[Tall_Allen in reply to Wolfee53]

Breast tenderness/growth is caused by an excess of estrogen relative to testosterone. Estrogen is a metabolic product of testosterone. Eligard+Zytiga almost completely eliminates testosterone, preventing estrogen creation. When they stop, testosterone may resume, and the protein SHBG (which has also been suppressed) may not yet resume to complex it, so more free estrogen may become available.

[rozr]

Had RT with 2 yrs Eligard. Currently post Eligard 2yrs, have also been experiencing breast enlargement with tenderness. My PC doctor sent me for mammogram and ecogram. Both came out negative, but diagnosis was Gynecomastia. I am now scheduled to see an endocrinologist next year. I will talk to my urologist this week on this matter. I read an article somewhere that 1-2% of RT patients experience this because of an hormone imbalance.Don't know if that is true or not. I am trying to find out for myself if there is treatment to reverse this.

[Explorer08]

I have gynecomastia, primarily due to Xtandi. I did the radiation treatment prior to starting Xtandi but it did nothing to help. I stopped Xtandi several months later but am still taking Orgovyx. I will restart Xtandi at half dose in January and plan to discuss Tall Allen’s mention of Tamoxifen gel with my oncologist.

If meds don’t work then breast reduction surgery is an option.

[Tommyj2 in reply to Explorer08]

I’m thinking of adding to my already existing B cup and starting a new career as a transgender exotic dancer….retirement funds are running low😪

[j-o-h-n in reply to Tommyj2]

Did you mean exodick dancer?

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[Derf4223 in reply to j-o-h-n]

j-o-h-n Is that a bit of a stretch joke?

[j-o-h-n in reply to Derf4223]

Any joke in a storm...

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[Tommyj2 in reply to j-o-h-n]

I would but after ADT I am having trouble finding it🫤

[j-o-h-n in reply to Tommyj2]

Get yourself an Apple AirTag (which is a super easy way to keep track of your stuff. Attach one to your keys, glue another on your Willie. And just like that, it's on your radar in the Find My app.)

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[Tommyj2 in reply to j-o-h-n]

Fortunately there’s enough left to grab it and take a leak….I’ll forgo the tracker🥴

[j-o-h-n in reply to Tommyj2]

When you were very young I guess they forgot to teach you "that you're supposed to leave a leak, not take one''. 🤡

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[JobViktor in reply to Tommyj2]

Las Vegas stage is waiting for your erotic dance🎃

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

That's under the stage. He does his best performance there...🙈🙉🙊

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

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

Lol......😁😄

[Break60]

yes I have but it goes away after awhile

[Mgtd]

Older men and women can suffer from “falling and enlarging breasts”. Just a part of aging but you can control it. Excess weight can also add flab to your waist and chest.

For some of us undergoing radiation and ADT for PC can cause enlarged breast. As mentioned above prior to radiation my RO gave me Tamoxifen. She told me in her experience it was more effective and then radiation to the breasts.

She also told me to increase my chest work at the gym. Which I did. I now do chest work 6 days a week. She also told me to reduce the carbs and increase fruit and veggies which I did. She told me to add a Farmer’s Carry which I did.

Did it help. You bet! For a guy almost 80 I have reduced flab and for my age I have a better defined chest. I also noticed better shoulders and upper arms, reduced waistline and more gripe strength.

PS She practices what she recommends. She is in amazing shape.

[SteveTheJ]

Of course; many people experience this. I'm currently taking 10mg/day of tamoxifen and it isn't helping so far. I will contact the oncologist in 2025 and see what the options are. No side effects from tamoxifen so far.

[Miccoman]

I had the same thing at the beginning of my treatments, 10 years ago, on Lupron and Xtandi. I put up with it until I couldn't wear a T shirt because they irritated my nipples. So they irradiated them and that was the end of that. Wish I had done is sooner so my boobs would be smaller, but so many men have them now that I'm not too out of the norm.

Tall Allen's advice is probably best, but radiation is also effective.

[j-o-h-n]

I used to call mine breasts...... now I call them TNT (Two Nifty Tits)....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[VictoryPC]

Yes , a tablet of tamoxifen weekly usually stops it.