Dog... man's best friend

[noahware]

It is fascinating to me that our best friend, the dog, is the fellow-sufferer of PC that helped us learn how to treat the disease. Likewise fascinating is the post-dog work of Charles Huggins... this 1966 paper tells us we can potentially treat PC by removing testosterone, as we commonly do today... OR, we can potentially treat PC (far less commonly) by flooding ourselves with EITHER testosterone OR estrogen, or perhaps something else.

But we still don't have a good idea of which works best for whom, exactly when, or why. We just do ADT because... it's what we do.

nobelprize.org/uploads/2018...

" Some types of cancer cells differ in a cardinal way from the cells from which they arose in their response to change in their hormonal environment.

Opposite sorts of change of the hormonal status can induce regression and, in some instances, cure of such cancers. These modifications are [1] deprivation of essential hormones, and [2] hormone interference by giving large amounts of critical compounds."

In the first modification, with ADT [1]: "Certain cancers are hormone-dependent and these cells die when supporting hormones are eliminated."

In the second modification, with administration EITHER of high estrogen OR high testosterone [2]: "Certain cancers succumb when large amounts of hormones are administered."

Choose your poison! But realize... when we choose ADT, we must remember that PC is maybe not just a single "certain cancer that is hormone-dependent." It seemingly can be two cancers in one, partly hormone-dependent and partly hormone-INdependent.

Does ADT help transform it more greatly into the latter, into a cancer that is increasingly more difficult to treat with just ADT? I sometimes wonder if the standard systemic treatment for this cancer helps turn it into a form of cancer that then resists the standard systemic treatment. Might we then be painting ourselves into a corner of last-ditch efforts?

Geez, speaking of transformation, I just went from admiration for a brilliant scientist right on to despondency over prevailing standards of care. I think it's time for a glass of resveratrol.

[tango65]

I believe you are right. Everybody knows that the actual treatment works only to prolong life for a while.

[honeybear2000]

My partner when ever they gave him ADT the cancer seemed to speed up and get worse, I'd say I'd have to agree. He passed away in September, they said he'd have at least another 12 months in the July the the doctors insisted he have another try of ADT so he did and well the time he had was drastically shortened. He kept insisting that it sped up the cancer they told him he was wrong.

[j-o-h-n in reply to honeybear2000]

Sorry to hear about your Partner's passing. Those extra 12 months are being spent in a paradise which he is enjoying. No more pain or B.S. Just keep him in your heart forever.....

j-o-h-n Thursday 03/12/2020 8:59 PM DST

[FightTillTheEnd]

I tend to agree with you, but it's based on a gut feeling rather than anything scientific.

I've just started with some research on genome sequencing for targeted treatment. The way we're treating it currently just doesn't feel right - to me anyway.

[Claud68]

healthunlocked.com/api/redi...

This was just posted today by a member about Dr. Bob Leibowitz .

[Claud68]

And also :

healthunlocked.com/api/redi...

[j-o-h-n]

Make it two....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 03/12/2020 8:54 PM DST

[Sxrxrnr1]

Attempted again to post a response. After much keyed data, confounded editor wiped me out. 3am in morning, I am sleepy,,,,will not key response in again.

[noahware in reply to Sxrxrnr1]

I hate when that happens.

BTW, I have read your profile and some of your posts, and your experience seems to lend some power to that famous pair of questions: when cure is possible, is it even really needed, and when cure is needed, is it really even possible?

I'd hate to self-impose the disease of hypogonadism as treatment for PC only to discover it's not all that helpful.