For those on or thinking about going on ADT short or long-term, I suggest you read through this comprehensive document in detail, so that you will understand the full nature of the challenge your body faces when deprived of Testosterone. The older you are, the greater will be the challenge.
It covers the full range of effects of testosterone levels related to all areas of health, including muscle mass-to fat ratios, cardiac issues, bone loss, diabetes/metabolic syndrome, cognition/dementia, sexual function, and all the rest.
Outside of any specific treatments that reduce T, the document profiles the significant challenges men face due to its level falling as we age. Add in the reduction of T to castrate levels with ADT and the story becomes downright dismal. (And this is a story whose life-altering challenges your MO and treatment center leave for you to mostly address on your own?? Definitely a years-to-life over life-to-years decision whose consequences you need to be fully aware of.)
The full document can be found here - along with the referenced 662 research sources used in its preparation:
Age-Related Changes in the Male Reproductive System - National Library of Medicine - Last Update: February 10, 2022
cujoe WROTE -- " For those on or thinking about going on ADT short or long-term, I suggest you read through this comprehensive document in detail, so that you will understand the full nature of the challenge your body faces when deprived of Testosterone. The older you are, the greater will be the challenge ... "
MY UNUSUAL FACTS -- March 2015 age almost 65, had a bilateral Orchiectomy , PCa dx GL10, endurance athlete, all performances started declining as expected
January 2016 contrary to PCa - SOC began biweekly Cypionate injections boosting "T" to 1,600ng/dL following injection down to 400/600ng/dL before next injection
Muscle mass, strength and endurance declines AS EXPECTED but likely at a reduced rate
March 2022 PSA rise so PSMA PET PYLARIFY Scan checking and came back clear.
NOTE : Cypionate DISCONTINUED in February before SCAN resulting in MINOR HOT FLASH RETURNS, occasional spacey feeling ---
**HOWEVER** IN APRIL BEGAN FEELING STRONGER and LESS FATIGUED with rare hot flashes.
For unknown reason I am feeling BETTER than when on Cypionate and can only surmise a THIRD TESTICLE must now be within kicking ass producing *T* -- hee-hee-hee -- or maybe I'm simply an ANOMOLY
A2C - I just got off the phone with Lulu700. He is also surgically castrated and would surely like to know how to get one of those "THIRD TESTICLE"s for himself. It seems we all have our individualized metabolism and hormone interplay - and the sort of "testing" you and others are doing is the only way we figure out what that might be. Once the PCa gets a foothold we become constantly changing "works in progress".
The most surprising quote in my first quick read through the linked document was this:
"The loss of muscle strength is even greater after the age of 70; 28% of men over the age of 74 could not lift objects weighing more than 4.5 kg."
4.5 kg is just 10 pounds!!! So according to the research used, almost a third of men over 74 could not even lift anything heavier than a 10 lb. weight?!? And that is not specific to men on ADT? I am 75, currently on short-term ADT and cannot imagine that I would ever not be able to lift a 10 pound weight outside of an OR, ER, or ICU. Just sayin' . . .
Keep doing what works and disregard the rest. That's what most of us who have challenged SOC are doing. QOL is a priority for some, longevity for others. At 75, it may be obvious what mine is. Only you know what yours should be. May you beat all the odds no matter what path you choose.
Quality not quantity has been my PRIORITY FOR LIVING since my 50th birthday on 7/10/2000 so #72 is rapidly approaching. I figure if I continue eating healthy and exercising maybe the resulting quality will add to the quantity. :0)
In similar fashion, nearing 75 in a couple of months, and having now outlived both my 4-year older bother and my dad, (both of whom died of cancer, but not PCa), I now feel I am living on "free time". Continuing to stay active and eating well are mainstays that keep me fit and healthy. Both have definitely had at least some measure in allowing me to survive cancer #1, CLL, for 16 years (so far untreated) and PCa since my RALP and IMRT in 2013-14. My fav saying about life has become: "Tomorrow is the future, yesterday is the past, today is a gift, and that is why it is called "The Present". Treat every day accordingly. The older we get the faster that damn biological clock seem to run. Run Forrest, run . . . faster. Ciao - K9 Terror
Sounds like another celebration will be in order when that happens. Fully continent and with a rising level of T . . . Look out for the dud on the Harley.
So for us simple minded that cannot read/understand all that was presented, my take was T increases desire, mental function, etc., but has no effect on erectile function itself. Makes sense that the mind controls the body.
Aye aye Kap’n. Will read as ordered. But so happy to be on cyclic SPT. Everything works so much better with T aboard. Still running, but much slower and appreciating beauty in the Forest more. Slows down time it seems. Run (in the) Forest, run.
I know both feelings well (T vs No T and RUN vs jog). As for the 1st pair, I've got 17 more days of mono-Lupron to go. Labs after initial 30 days was PSA of 0.07 (down from estimated 3.5 @ start) and T of 10 (down from avg. 450 @ start). Seems to prove I'm still a "good-to-excellent" responder to Lupron. 1st time around with a single 3-mo shot back in 2017, T bounced back with vigor, going from 09 at end of ADT to 586 three mos later. I'm counting on a similar result this second time (?) with hopes for another mulit-year SOC vacation to come. (I will consider a dutasteride + occasional arimidex as a maintenance combo as a min "maintenance treatment" if the "undetectable" PSA proves to be durable. (jdm3 has been doing that with success for years now - as was evidenced by Dr. Meyers research from last year. I'm also interested in the "engineered" Biacutamide n=1 dosing experiment that justfor_ is doing. His routine, with the addition of dutasteride would seem to be a sort of combo of ADT with supraT as an SE .)
As for the second pair, I was a regular runner back 35+ year ago @ 5 mi x 5 per week w/ avg time of 8 min/mi. In early 2020, I restarted occasional (2-3 x per week) "runs" of 3 mi. after I lost my near-daily visits to the local Y due to COVID. ( My cancer #1, CLL, puts me near the top for risk of serious infection and death.) Up until this year, I was never able to improve over a 10 min/mile pace. In an absolute sense, that would hardly be considered "running" and, at best, maybe medium speed jogging.
I didn't run much during this past winter restorting to long daily walks instead. So when I started back early this spring, I started with interval sprints combined with walking and slow jogs. I call it my walk/jog/run routine. I occasional do a 3-mile continuous "run" and guess my time might have dropped to a fast jog/slow run pace @ 9 min/mile for the 3+ mile circuit. I only run on the unpaved trails at a local city park - as I gotta take some care of this near-75 year old body. One of the trails I often use is a woodland trail and that run (or walk) IN the 'Forrest" is usually the best part of my day.
It took about a month, but I am now feeling the effects of near-zero T on a daily basis. Just as with my AUS urinary implant, no one really knows what it's like to lose most of your male sex hormone until they experience it first hand. (In the case of the AUS, it is the daily and sometimes hourly worry of leakage that impact QOL - IMO, even worse that does zero T.) I think the MOs and urologists prescribing ADT should all have to do a min 3-month treatment themselves. It's one reason doctors like Dr. Meyers get my respect, since he is a PCa survivor himself. That real skin-in-the-game perspective changes everything, even for MDs, IMO.
So, from one S-I-T-G patient to another, may we hear of better than expected results as your recent treatment goes to work. I'm headed off to care for a couple of dogs (1 small young and 1 large very old) for about ten days in the NC mountains. No nautical duties and some challenging topo to challenge my T-less stamina. Should be just what NO doctor (of mine) ordered.
See you on the HU electronic highway. Keep It Safe and Well, Bro'. Later On . . .
Thanks for posting.... T is so essential for us men...for bone and muscle mass, brain function, red blood cell production, fat storage, and sexual desire... When I was on lupron and abiraterone the last time, you could have trotted the sexiest women in the world nude passed me carrying one grilled chicken sandwich and I would have been focused on getting the sandwich... no lie... I was anemic and the brain fog was so bad that I had to monitor myself in the kitchen for turning off the oven... Not looking forward to going back on "The meds"....
Been there myself, Mr. Fish. My vision was the entire Dallas Cheerleaders crew passing by nude and me saying. "Hey, Get out of the way! Can't you see I'm trying to watch the game? I'm still hoping my 2 months of Lupron does the job this time and I get out of T-jail early and maybe even get to"Pass Go" a second time around the PCa gameboard.
Good luck with the SBRT. Let me know how it goes. Gotta get ready to head out for a 2 week pet-sit assignment (for some real K9s) in the NC mountains. Catch ya' later.
The SBRT is approved by insurance, but still no time table for treatment. They are running the treatment plan through the computer for optimal treatment. The Lupron is still waiting for completion of prior authorization ( discussion between Insurance and my MO) before shipping occurs.... Saves me thousands of dollars but hate the waiting... Enjoy the K9 camp where you are king....LOL... Do not drink too much, but feel free to howl at the moon !!!
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