Anyone considered bilateral orchiectomy: Why or why not?

@ozzie51
Thanks a lot! Makes sense. I asked the Urologist, and he suggested to wait to get first psa test 4-6 weeks after orchiectomy, and then decide if any additional meds is required. Btw, what antiandrogen was prescribed? did YOU decide to go with antiandrogen? If yes, pls share the reason.

Thanks once again!

@sbd

In 4-6 weeks when i started chemo my testosterone was undetectable. My uro said testosterone leaves in as soon as 48 hours after orchiectomy w/implants.
My PSA is < 0.10
Prostate is normal size and urine flow is good. That took a few weeks while i healed from the surgery.
Did 6 Docetaxel infusions and started the Abiraterone right after the 1st chemo.

We fought this with every weapon available and the help of JC

Let me know if you have any questions.

@sbd

i should note that my uro graduated me after my first chemo. My oncologgist is super thorough and was actually supportive of the orchiectomy i will be 74 this December by the grace of God.

@val6, how are you doing now?

@spino I also an interested in estrogen patches. I have been on Eligard for nearly 5 years. Early in my second year, the side effects were so severe that I consulted with a gynocologist to see if estrogen treatments would help. She said estrogen therapy would provide relief, but there would be increased risk of breast cancer. I abandoned the idea, but I am now determined to pursue it again.

@seeker001
You should do some research into the Patch study Which was a clinical trial that found that the estradiol patch worked as well as ADT and caused fewer hot flashes and less bone deterioration.

At least 50% of people using estradiol patches get gynecomastia, Though the average breast growth is not that much. It can be stopped if you get radiation to the chest before starting estrogen. Speak to a radiation oncologist about this.

If you have BRCA2, then you cannot use the estradiol patch. It greatly increases the chance of breast cancer, and people with BRCA2.

@jeffmarc Thank you for your helpful response. I already have moderate gynecomastia from ADT, and I don't really need any more. I will look into the radiation solution. I also will check BRCA2 and immerse myself in the PATCH study. I sense that good stuff is happening. Hope I live long enough to grab some of it.

@seeker001
If you go to ancan.org You can listen to a couple of videos where Richard Wassersug PhD. Discusses the use of the estradiol patch And gel. He’s been using them for many years with quite a bit of success.

He wrote a book on ADT.

Quick query for those who had orchiectomy a few years ago. What are the side effects typically after 6 months or so, and longer term. What can be done to deal with those (diet, exercise), etc. if anyone could shed some light on these. Also, is it mandatory to have ARSI or ARPI post orchiectomy? Or do we have anyone who did doublet (orchiectomy+ RT)?

@sbd
It is not mandatory to have an ARSI but if your PSA starts rising, it is the main solution right now for you to keep your PSA down.

Many people who have prostate cancer and are on ADT, which keeps their testosterone almost undetectable, still become castrate resistant And require an ARSI or their PSA will start rising. That happened to me, First, I went on Zytiga Which kept my PSA down, but not undetectable for 2 1/2 years. I moved on to Nubeqa Which is kept me undetectable for two years. I know many people that have moderate testosterone levels and are on Nubeqa Alone, and it keeps their PSA undetectable.

An ARSI like Nubeqa Has very few side effects and doesn’t pass the blood brain barrier so it doesn’t cause brain fog and keeps the PSA down quite reliably.