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Post-treatment testosterone
I was G7 (4+3) and treated two years ago with five sessions of SBRT, two months of doublet therapy and then four months of Orgovyx ending in 10/2024. My PSA has been undetectable for a full year.
My pre-treatment testosterone was in the mid 500s. Three months after stopping, it reached ~350 but has been bouncing around since and is now 260.
My GP says TRT is a hard “no” after prostate cancer. My sexual health doctor says it’s fine and he’s seen no difference in recurrence between those who do and don’t supplement. My oncologist says it’s up to me.
My urologist has the most nuanced opinion. He thinks supplementation is OK but questions if it’s needed. He thinks I should go by how I feel and not just a number from a test and emphasizes that T is not a miracle drug that will “make you feel 25 and solve all your problems” despite online advertising claims.
My libido is the same as pre-treatment and sexual function is good with 20 mg Viagra. I have no trouble exercising. My mental state is decent. I have mild radiation cystitis, but I don’t think T helps that.
My nagging fear, though, is that having relatively low T is damaging me in some way I’m not aware of despite how I feel and that eventually something awful will happen as a result.
I’m leaning towards waiting the full two years to see what happens. Anyone faced a similar choice? How did it work out for you? Thanks!
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@baggieboy
Are you on ADT? That definitely eliminates the interest in sex. You definitely would have low testosterone, Below 20, If you are on ADT.
I had a laminectomy in 2017 due to numbness on my right side. Are you getting numbness in any area of your body? That’s definitely caused by stenosis and a laminectomy is frequently the solution. In my case, I still have partial numbness, Works great for my monthly blood tests, But it makes it difficult to button buttons. or even picked things up. Don’t want to get too far, you don’t want to let numbness spread. I was on ADT when I had the surgery. It was not a factor.
Mine was caused by frequently bending my neck forward. I’m 6‘4“ tall and to talk to most people I do have to look down. Didn’t realize that could cause a problem long-term.
@jeffmarc
No only meds I'm taking is for my bladder, still getting pain if I don't take the one and the other is to help stop the urgency I get, Before having the med I would be sat watching tele feeling fine, soon as I stood up I would almost wet myself if I didn't get to a toilet in time. I went down the radiotherapy path. The last few weeks my flow is getting slower and slower. Won't see my doctor until after the neck spinel stenosis surgery on May 5th, It was put on the back burner when they diagnosed I had got prostate cancer, thankfully apart from the routine 6th monthly PSA blood checks I'm clear
After 20 proton radiation sessions and androgen deprivation I was weak and could barely walk. Doctors gave me a Brain MRI and sent me for months of physical therapy with no improvement..
After reading online I went for a testosterone test and it came back as 120. I found a hormone clinic and started a once a week injection. In 24 hours all my trouble walking was gone.
Been on TRT for 3 years and feel great. And it is hard for my urologist to complain cause my PSA keeps going down.
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2 ReactionsMy PSA is zero after both radiation 20 years ago and a salvage prostatectomy recently not due to a recurrence. My T was in the low hundreds. Had some libido but impotent due to venous leak so am celibate, but I lost most of my muscle mass so doc agreed to prescribe generic Androgel. Applying it as prescribed to my shoulders seems to be causing irritation to my upper chest so I discontinued it. Have others had success getting Part D plan to cover patches?