Avoiding the damage ADT can do to your body

[Don_1213]

I've seen here and in the advanced prostate cancer forum some threads on avoiding becoming a blob, and using calcium and D3 to maintain bone strength. I've seen threads with complex formulas of supplements to take to avoid some ADT inflicted body damage.

I more or stumbled across this talk - and found it exceptionally informative. I mentioned it in another thread on muscle mass - but thought it really deserves its own thread for discussion.

The talk is less than 15 minutes long, it's very fast-moving, very informative (I've watched it several times and each time got something else out of it..)

Here is the summary: Mark A. Moyad, MD, MPH, the Jenkins/Pokempner Director of Complementary/Alternative Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical Center in the Department of Urology, discusses the consequences of androgen-deprivation therapy-related skeletal muscle loss. He goes on to discuss the prevalence of sarcopenia in prostate cancer patients, the clinical studies demonstrating the efficacy of incorporating exercise for the prevention or mitigation of sarcopenia, as well as the benefits and limitations of diet and over the counter supplements for the prevention of sarcopenia.

And here is the link: Moyad, Mark A. “Sarcopenia in the Prostate Cancer Patient” January 23rd, 2020. Accessed Apr 2020. grandroundsinurology.com/sa...

Worth watching - it brought some changes to my supplements immediately.

[6357axbz]

Many here, and I am one of them, have greatly mitigated the loss of muscle mass with regular exercise, to the point it’s pretty much a non-issue.

[Don_1213 in reply to 6357axbz]

I'm glad to hear that.. I tried to. I was going to the gym before ADT, I actually ramped up some of my exercises in anticipation of ADT - and it may have helped (maybe I could be worse off..) but it didn't eliminate the problem.

And if you watch the video - that IS one of his points - regular exercise done the right way (which might have been my problem - I was always equating more resistance/weight as being better - and it's not) should start before the first ADT shot.

He makes other points you may find interesting - the section on calcuim/D3 supplements is really of interest, especially to anyone who might be prone to kidney stones.

[6357axbz in reply to Don_1213]

My exercise is strictly non-impact and aerobic (arthritis and cardio issues). I swim laps, about 2 miles/week in 5 or 6 sessions.

[Hidden in reply to 6357axbz]

Sarcopenia & osteopenia are me. I lost much under double adt and rt .. I couldn’t do much for a year and a half due to tubes out of my kidneys and dick. Told not yo lift more than 20lbs and I didn’t. I lost all muscle and then

Bone rapidly in the past five years of continuous adt . I was messed up for a few years . I’m better now urologic wise. Not perfect . But no tubes. I’ve found it impossible to regain what is lost . Even just trying to maintain any muscle with castration is a feat . Good that you stayed ahead of it . Once things are lost they are not easily retrieved .

[BonoVox1 in reply to Hidden]

Have you tried GABA?

It helped me a lot.

[Hidden in reply to BonoVox1]

I have not ! I Take so many nutrients as it is . It is My part time job . Thank you ! I’ll look into gaba!

[Hidden in reply to BonoVox1]

What is gaba

Thx

[Hidden]

Very good thank you !

[binati]

I would strongly endorse whatever is recommended in this talk you have circulated. I was a regular in exercise, walking etc and added weights (light with many repetitions) after starting ADT. Within a few months I was over the hump on hot flashes ( one or none per day) and muscle loss stopped and my bone density after 6 months was normal for my age. I think those who are more sedentary and do not start this regimen are the ones that suffer the most and are vocal advocates of not using ADT. Of course that is not to say that there are also those who have genuine problems like depression and memory loss. However, I think their side effects could also be mitigated through regular workouts.

[Don_1213 in reply to binati]

You might also consider that other men may have conditions that prevent them from exercising as much as you can. I have a bad back and bad hips.. That means there are some kinds of exercises I simply can't do.. I'm not certain how you might judge if a problem is genuine or not, but perhaps you might give us some hints.

[binati in reply to Don_1213]

It is obvious that those with physical conditions that preclude exercising will be unable to mitigate their side effects through physical exercises. The word genuine was used to point out that there are some effects that people have that might not be alleviated by exercise. I think the word ' genuine' could have been avoided.

[braddockroad]

Very informative and helpful video. Causes me to rethink the supplements I'm taking. Hard to get the same exercise at home without a gym. Looking forward to the end of covid-19.

[binati in reply to braddockroad]

During this period I am using 5kg dumbells at home for the upper body but cannot do the lower body exércises.

[RayF]

Muscle loss for me has been dramatic, and I've never stopped working out. Absolute strength is reduced, but ok for my age. Vascularity has all but disappeared, I used to he very vascular.

Exercise did not reduce hot flashes, I would sweat like an animal in the gym, but over time they have been greatly reduced, and intermittent fasting has had a huge effect on reducing them.

I'm a fan of lifting heavy and light. it's good to he able to lift and move stuff. I'd say you can reduce the damage, but you cannot avoid a significant amount. I'll never stop the battle though.

Thanks for the video link, lots of interesting info.

[Hidden in reply to RayF]

Lets keep pushing this snow ball back up the hill.

[RayF in reply to Hidden]

That's about it💪

[Hidden in reply to RayF]

Treading water !👍💪