1. < Prostate Cancer

Can we talk about boobs please? Man Boobs. ADT induced gynecomastia.

Posted by aldenrobert @aldenrobert, Mar 31 7:08pm

I ended a 24 weeks of ADT (Orgovyx and Erleada) on Aug.28 2023. About 12 weeks into the treatment I had lost about 70% of my body hair and my chest had started to enlarge. I knew that this was a potential side effect and mentioned it to my Oncologist's Nurse Practitioner and the nurse who over the drug study I was in at the time. I also mentioned that one side was bigger than the other. They both laughed and said "join the club". I said that I had read that one of the side effects could be sensitive breasts, but that my breasts weren't sensitive but that I was started to get sensitive about my breasts. We all laughed. Now 4 months later and no longer on ADT my breasts are about 4 times the size they were before I started ADT. Luckily I was always rather flat chested but I am concerned that they will continue to grow when I resume ADT. I would love to hear what others experiences have been with this rather sensitive topic. And yes now my nipples are very sensitive (sore to the touch).

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

aldenrobert | @aldenrobert | Apr 4 10:58am
In reply to @samidh "I'm in my mid-70s now, and life's been a rollercoaster lately. Since September 2022, I've been..." + (show)
@samidh

I'm in my mid-70s now, and life's been a rollercoaster lately. Since September 2022, I've been on this medication cocktail of Zoladex (Goserelin) and Abiraterone, but I can't quite figure out which one's causing all the trouble, or maybe it's both of them ganging up on me. Around 6-8 months into the treatment, things started getting funky. I've been shedding body hair like a golden retriever in summer, and I've even started growing a pair—albeit a modest one, around A cup-size, if I were to guess.

Fatigue hit me like a ton of bricks, and it feels like my muscles are playing hide and seek, with about 20-30% of them seemingly gone missing, while my tummy's decided to throw a party and gain about 4 inches uninvited. As if that wasn't enough, bone and joint pains have become my new companions, and to top it off, I'm one of the lucky few dealing with the long-term consequences of the radiation I had to endure a year back—hello proctitis!

But you know what? Despite all of this, I'm still here, kicking and savoring every moment life throws my way. Because hey, being alive is a gift, and I'm not letting a few bumps in the road steal my joy. Keep smiling!

Jump to this post

Thanks for your comment.
I totally agree, being alive is a gift!

REPLY
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 4 3:54pm

Members may also be interested in these related discussions:
- Gynecomastia (male breast enlargement) bc of ADT-prevention/experience
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/gynecomastia-male-breast-enlargement-due-to-adt-can-it-be-prevented-1/
- Gynecomastia while taking hormone therapy for prostate cancer
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/gynecomastia-while-taking-hormone-therapy-for-prostate-cancer/
- Breast enlargement in men due to hormone therapy.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/breast-enlargement-in-men-due-to-hormone-therapy/

REPLY
Scottyrussell | @scottyrussell | Apr 5 4:54am
In reply to @samidh "I'm in my mid-70s now, and life's been a rollercoaster lately. Since September 2022, I've been..." + (show)
@samidh

I'm in my mid-70s now, and life's been a rollercoaster lately. Since September 2022, I've been on this medication cocktail of Zoladex (Goserelin) and Abiraterone, but I can't quite figure out which one's causing all the trouble, or maybe it's both of them ganging up on me. Around 6-8 months into the treatment, things started getting funky. I've been shedding body hair like a golden retriever in summer, and I've even started growing a pair—albeit a modest one, around A cup-size, if I were to guess.

Fatigue hit me like a ton of bricks, and it feels like my muscles are playing hide and seek, with about 20-30% of them seemingly gone missing, while my tummy's decided to throw a party and gain about 4 inches uninvited. As if that wasn't enough, bone and joint pains have become my new companions, and to top it off, I'm one of the lucky few dealing with the long-term consequences of the radiation I had to endure a year back—hello proctitis!

But you know what? Despite all of this, I'm still here, kicking and savoring every moment life throws my way. Because hey, being alive is a gift, and I'm not letting a few bumps in the road steal my joy. Keep smiling!

Jump to this post

Sam, I’m 71 and have the same symptoms here, my radiation (39x) ended the past of October 2023, and I only took the initial 6 month ADT shot. Not one of my team of doctors told me about all of these side effects! However my urologist is cool and now I’m getting some straight scoop. Gained mass around the mid section which was explained to me as side effect of the ADT. Now my shorts don’t fit, my shirts are too tight, I’ve put on weight, not a ton because I refuse to gain weight, I’m tired or fatigued but that is coming around now. Radiation proctitis, my stools are an event! Let’s say terrible event and numerous. I have had hair loss too, shrinkage, and a lot of other stuff to many to list.
People say I look great, I feel like crap. I’m coming up on a year from my first and only ADT shot June 30th. It has to get better.
Thanks for your original post!

REPLY
1 reply
aldenrobert | @aldenrobert | Apr 5 8:27am
In reply to @scottyrussell "Sam, I’m 71 and have the same symptoms here, my radiation (39x) ended the past of..." + (show)
@scottyrussell

Sam, I’m 71 and have the same symptoms here, my radiation (39x) ended the past of October 2023, and I only took the initial 6 month ADT shot. Not one of my team of doctors told me about all of these side effects! However my urologist is cool and now I’m getting some straight scoop. Gained mass around the mid section which was explained to me as side effect of the ADT. Now my shorts don’t fit, my shirts are too tight, I’ve put on weight, not a ton because I refuse to gain weight, I’m tired or fatigued but that is coming around now. Radiation proctitis, my stools are an event! Let’s say terrible event and numerous. I have had hair loss too, shrinkage, and a lot of other stuff to many to list.
People say I look great, I feel like crap. I’m coming up on a year from my first and only ADT shot June 30th. It has to get better.
Thanks for your original post!

Jump to this post

Thank you for your comment and for sharing your experience. It really helps to hear what others have gone through with their treatments. I think that if the doctors explained all of the potential side effects from the treatments, more guys would choose not to go through the treatments. My problem now is that I know how the side effects were for me. Although I was able to tolerate side effects and complete the treatments, none have been very successful. My PSA was only undetectable for a couple months after doing 6 months of ADT. There have been three consecutive increases in my PSA in the past three months. My oncologist says there will most likely be more ADT for me in the near future. Something I am not looking forward to...

REPLY
starman | @starman | Apr 6 7:51am

I have been on ADT for 3 years (Degaralix,Erleada).I’ve lost body hair as well as gained fat deposits on my inner thigh,belly and breasts.I was told this is an irreversible side effect.I am embarrassed to the point that I don’t wish to display the new me.Furthermore this came as a shock.I was not informed about these side effects.I guess if ADT is keeping the cancer in check that it’s better than meeting my maker.You have to live with the new reality.

REPLY
jc76 | @jc76 | Apr 6 8:25am

I am truly touched to read these posts. I did not have ADT with my radiation treatments. However, I was not able to exercise (bike riding) as much during treatments and also began what I call sympathy eating to feel better.

I gained 30 lbs over the 30 treatments of proton radiation that took 7 weeks to do. My chest area and breast seemed to be the spot for most of my weight to go to. And developed what you posted man boops. I am ashamed about them and truly embarrassing.

I am trying to lose weight have lost 20 lbs. However the opposite is now where the fat is coming off. Not the chest but legs and waist. Started doing weight training, back to swimming, bike riding, on Nutrisystem and my worst concern is the embarrassment of having boops. I know how you feel guys and I did not even have ADT.

REPLY
1 reply
aldenrobert | @aldenrobert | Apr 6 9:05am
In reply to @jc76 "I am truly touched to read these posts. I did not have ADT with my radiation..." + (show)
@jc76

I am truly touched to read these posts. I did not have ADT with my radiation treatments. However, I was not able to exercise (bike riding) as much during treatments and also began what I call sympathy eating to feel better.

I gained 30 lbs over the 30 treatments of proton radiation that took 7 weeks to do. My chest area and breast seemed to be the spot for most of my weight to go to. And developed what you posted man boops. I am ashamed about them and truly embarrassing.

I am trying to lose weight have lost 20 lbs. However the opposite is now where the fat is coming off. Not the chest but legs and waist. Started doing weight training, back to swimming, bike riding, on Nutrisystem and my worst concern is the embarrassment of having boops. I know how you feel guys and I did not even have ADT.

Jump to this post

I feel your pain. Instead of being too embarrassed about my new reality I just joke about it with my friends. Many can relate even though they aren't PC patients.
The good thing for me is that my body hair is coming back and the chest hair is coming back very thick. There's just more surface to cover now that there was before ADT.

REPLY
1 reply
jc76 | @jc76 | Apr 6 5:42pm
In reply to @aldenrobert "I feel your pain. Instead of being too embarrassed about my new reality I just joke..." + (show)
@aldenrobert

I feel your pain. Instead of being too embarrassed about my new reality I just joke about it with my friends. Many can relate even though they aren't PC patients.
The good thing for me is that my body hair is coming back and the chest hair is coming back very thick. There's just more surface to cover now that there was before ADT.

Jump to this post

One of my heart medications has a side affect of breast enlargement in men. I just went on it about a month ago. Wish I could blame it but my chest fat was there long before it.

Not sure what a solution is and what others have done. I know the ADT is a factor but does it return to normal after your treatments? I remember (I think Seinfield episode) on man boops and making a man bra. Back then was funny now a condition of embarrassment.

I do agree that having large breast is something to accept when beating prostrate cancer and other treatments that cause it. Maybe Colleen should start another topic on this as I am sure a lot of men have gotten in not just from ADT but many other drugs that affect men and breast enlargement.

REPLY
russ777 | @russ777 | Apr 7 12:49pm

Last Sept or thereabouts I received some radiotherapy to halt any further breast enlargement. It seems to have worked so far. Very easy to tolerate, there were only 3 sessions not counting the simulation they used to develop a fixture. This was using electron beam, so not the usual photon beams. Because of that the depth of penetration was very shallow so no worries about secondary SEs.

What I had was very mild enlargement, just noticeable enough for my MO to agree that there was some gynocomastia. He explained the two main options, one taking a hormone pill, the other radiation.

I figure if when I get off the ADT in about a year if the tissue that had developed there bothers me I can always get surgery. That would be out of my own pocket though. I'm guessing less than $5k since only local anethesia is used.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.