Testosterone recovery after ADT

From my perspective the level of frustration and anxiety seems to be tied to one’s identity as a strong, virile male. Once you start losing body hair, your testes shrink, you lose muscle mass and you have ED, it can be disconcerting to say the least. However, if One can focus on an identity other than “man”, I think it become more tolerable. It seems the identities you might focus on are quite numerous, such as friend, father, helper, mentor, etc,. Best to you in your choices…

After 3 years on ADT, I've realised I'm experiencing a kind of gender dysphoria sometimes. My body doesn't look like my body any more — with smooth, mostly hairless arms, legs, and chest and mild gynomastia, I occasionally feel like I'm looking at a stranger, or that I'm not really male.

We've learned a lot about gender dysphoria in other contexts over the past few decades: maybe its something the medical community should pay more attention to in supporting prostate-cancer patients.

From my perspective, the uniqueness of every individual deserves the respect and awe deserved by the miracle of the ubiquitous diversity of life. Perhaps that is the reason for the challenges we face…

Interesting guidelines. I have early stage, T1c, gleason 7 4+3, three acinar carcenoma lesions, confined to prostate, PSA 6.7, 48 cc prostate, 72 years old. RO prescribed 4 mos ADT (Orgovyx), 2 months IGRT (overlapping). I have taken 17 Orgovyx pills so far with no clear symptoms. Maybe it is too early?

I had hot flashes constantly with seven years of Lupron. When I switched to Orgovyx I didn’t get any hot flashes for about four months, then they started again. Some people get a few or none. You’re probably gonna feel some of the other issues with ADT, but being on it for such a short time, you may get lucky. Be active do weight training and running or walking to defeat the fatigue problem, and the loss of muscles.

Good luck!

@scottbeammeup, not surprisingly, there are many discussions related to testosterone in the support group. See all https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/prostate-cancer/?search=Testosterone%20&index=discussions

These seem relevant to your original question:
- Testosterone levels are rising after cessation of ADT
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/testosterone-levels-are-rising-after-sessation-of-adt/
- Orgovyx and the timeline for return of normal testosterone level
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/orgovyx-and-the-timeline-for-return-of-normal-testosterone-level/
I like Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s About Herbs database, a tool for the public as well as healthcare professionals, to help you figure out the value of using common herbs and other dietary supplements. Read more here: https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/diagnosis-treatment/symptom-management/integrative-medicine/herbs

For any supplement, herb or complementary medication one hears about from fellow patients, social media, etc., you can get the low-down on the available evidence.

So....a question regarding Testosterone post treatment; in my case Proton radiation and Orgovyx.
If testosterone levels increase on their own post-ADT, it appears that a urologist or RO are ok with that. Yet, the overall consensus seems to be that TRT after PC treatment is bad. My urologist initially posed this query to me as we discussed my going back on TRT, albeit at a lower dose than prior to my diagnosis and treatments.
In my case, my T level pre-diagnosis was 770, dropped to 55 after stopping my TRT injections and was 16 three full months after ending ADT and 25 after seven months. It was quite apparent it was not going to increase on its own (I was on TRT for ~20 years due to low levels). My last test showed a T level of 469, and I am feeling much better in so many ways but must watch PSA as it went from 0.03 to 0.29 with follow-up labs next week.
Energy vastly improved, endurance in sports better, brain fog lifted, libido...ah I remember that (still having erection issues even with cialis). Oh, btw, I turn 70 in a few months.

Thanks. DHEA, which is what guys at my gym recommended, seems very risky.

Be careful. With your testosterone that high, you can start to get bone and lymph node metastasis. You might want to get aPSMA Pet test to make sure none show up. How high was your Gleason score? If it is an eight or higher, you are playing with fire increasing your testosterone.

Get monthly PSA tests. If ot doubles quickly you need the pet test.

I know you’ll feel better, I’ve been on ADT for eight years and my biggest problems are muscle deterioration, brain fog and hot flashes, something I can live with since I can live for 15 years with cancer. What is your life expectancy worth?

Is 770 really high? My T, without TRT, before treatment was 620. I thought normal was 300-1,000?