Connect
Estradiol patch prescriptions
I am on Lupron, Zitiga, and now radiation for a Gleason score 8 prostate cancer. The cancer had spread to adjacent lymph nodes and one seminal vesicle. Lupron, Zitiga and then radiation was prescribed as the standard of care. This regimen is making me feel awful, and from what I have read with continue to have harmful effects on my body.
Anyway, I recently found out about estradiol patches as an alternative to ADT. The estradiol patches actually increase bone density, and reduce hot flashes, blood glucose levels, and blood pressure. A major problem to some people is slightly increased breast growth. The most major problem for me is I couldn't find anyone to prescribe the patches. The PATCH trial in England has been testing Estradiol patches to reduce testosterone and therefore keep prostate cancer in check since 2007 (https://www.urologytimes.com/view/estradiol-patches-in-prostate-cancer-evidence-and-impact).
I finally have found a medical oncologist that agrees that this approach will likely be beneficial, but it wasn't easy to find him, and he may still have some difficulties prescribing this off-label. Wish me luck since I will not continue taking the ADT route.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.
Connect
I know four people that are using estradiol as their main ADT treatment. Richard Wassersug Who wrote one of the books on ADT has been on estradiol for 22 years and it just kept his PSA down and he has not Become castrate resistant during that time. He actually has a group that is promoting Estradiol as a treatment,
Here is a video he did discussing it
https://ancan.org/
Here are some more information more up-to-date from Richard in reply to an email I sent him
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/a-note-from-richard-wassersug-phd-about-the-use-of-estradiol-over-adt/
And even more information. A meeting at ancan.org That had the last half was dedicated to discussing estradiol with A lot of questions answered.
https://ancan.us14.list-manage.com/track/click
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 ReactionsWishing you the best of luck !!! Those are great news indeed : ))) !
Please keep us posted and if you do not mind telling us the name of a doctor or at least send me a PM - I am trying to find doctor locally (CA) and I know that he/she exists in the Bay Area but so far had no success finding the name of that one : (((.
May this be answer for your PC treatment < 3
Please keep us in the loop. Worth a try for sure. Ogorvyx wasn't horrible but if Estrodiol has fewer sides I'm in.
I have been using estradiol patches for two months, to compensate for the fatigue resulting from a bilateral orchiectomy last November. My breasts have grown slightly, and my nipples are very sensitive. Otherwise, no problem. Cost is about $1 per day. Patches are in Medicare's formulary, so insurance should pay for them.
You may encounter a physician who says don't use patches because they cause blood clots. If so find a different physician, because that is not true. Estradiol taken orally slightly increases clot risk. Taken transdermally (via patches, creams, gels ...) it does not and may even slightly reduce the risk. Best wishes for a long and happy life.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
6 Reactions@seeker001
Thanks so much for sharing your experience and I am so glad to hear that it helps you and that your side effects are minimal.
@surftohealth88
Thanks for the well wishes. The doctor I finally found to prescribe estradiol patches was Dr Ng at OHSU Knight Cancer Center. All my other doctors said they can't prescribe because it wasn't the standard of care, but Dr Ng said no problem. I should receive my first patches within a few days from Mark Cuban Cost plus drugs.
Good Luck
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 Reactions@jeffmarc
Thanks, all that is helpful info as I begin a new adventure on Estradiol.
@formscapeds
Thanks sooo much for the info !
WOW - you are so lucky to find open-minded and well informed doctor : ))) , he obviously read the newest research and knows about results of latest trials. It is only matter of time when it will become "standard of care" IMHO and in the meantime patients have to scramble and put extraordinary effort in finding a doctor that is ready to go step above and put patient's interest and needs first ! Medications are prescribed "off label" all the time BTW, it is always about level of knowledge and competence of every individual doctor.
GOOD for you !!! Wishing you super successful suppression of PC with minimal side effects.
Once again thanks so much for sharing , I am very grateful < 3. Please keep us posted : )))
I just received the following email from Dr, Richard Wassersug who is a member of our North Shore Prostate Cancer Support Group in Vancouver, BC. His Estradiol Initiative continues to move forward.
Dear All,
Finally, the key paper by the Brits on transdermal as a treatment for prostate cancer is now out and free online!
See: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2511781
Transdermal provides not just better quality of life, but equal to or better survival in terms of disease progression. Although it is not in the paper, we have data to show that the one specific side effect of transdermal estradiol, gynecomastia, is actually minor in adult men.
Tell the world!
Richard Wassersug, PhD
Honorary Professor
Faculty of Medicine
University of British Columbia
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
6 Reactions@gkm
Thanks for this info and for sharing those fantastic news !!! < 3
Now hopefully it will be told to "doctors" since "the world" knew but nobody would prescribed it to patients and I am sure will still NOT prescribe it for some considerable time in the future : (((.