Zero energy 3+ years after radiation and Firmagon for Stage 1 PC

Ask to have a iron panel and CBC done. Low iron and/or low Hemoglobin can really sap your energy.

Thanks so much, I see my endo twice each year, preceded by a comprehensive blood panel. Every component of my bloodwork is excellent, including hemoglobin/hematocrit and CBC and everything else you can think of. The only thing "out of range" is my "T" which is never higher than 150. As I mentioned it was actually at "0" after completing my PC treatments, and remained there until I found and began taking the Life Extension Testosterone Elite. I also have begun incorporating asparagus into my diet as that can often trigger a few point increase in "T". I am so sure that the low "T" is the culprit, but without going back on Androgel or resorting to the very dangerous "T" boosting supplements, I am left with my excellent diet to do the best I can. Be well. Mike

I can understand what you are stating about low T and minimal to zero energy. In early 2023, I had 29 Proton sessions followed by ADT/Orgovyx. Before my diagnosis, I was doing testosterone injections every two weeks and my level was approximately 770. Upon receiving my Dx, I immediately stopped the T injections and my level dropped to 55 within weeks. My most recent T levels have been < 16, despite being off the ADT pills since 8/31/23. Between the minimal T in my body and the ever-lingering effects of the Orgovyx, my energy has mostly remained very low, the hot flashes are still an everyday/evening occurrence. My RO has stated I am not to go back on TRT for 2+ years but this is a discussion we will have at my next appointment in April. Most recent PSA = 0.03% so that is not an issue.

Based on readings and input from others, it appears Western medicine is much more stringent on the use of TRT post-radiation or surgery than other parts of the world. Both my better half (a nurse) and I are convinced my low T is responsible for the low energy, zero libido and the fact that I am hot/cold, hot/cold (repeat.....) and I am chilly/cold so often.
I will definitely look at the Life Extension supplement you cite - I have already added others and B12 to try and jumpstart some energy and mental focus!

A question for you or others here: if TRT is "bad" for PC, how is it ok to take other supplements to naturally increase the T levels?

Thanks for your reply, though I'm so sorry that you are struggling in much the same fashion as I have been. Your situation, including the feeling cold, lack of energy, possibly revisiting the use of "T" supplementation two years down the road, are all too familiar to me. Keep in mind that when I did return to Androgel use three years after my treatments ended, my liver, kidney, hemoglobin/hematocrit numbers, etc, had all been compromised and I had to stop the Androgel for fear of possible permanent liver or kidney damage, blood clots, and so on. Thankfully, my PSA, which had been at < 0.1 and then 0.1 for three years plus, had only risen to 0.38 during the Androgel use, but that was expected.

I hope you will see some improvement in your "T" level when you begin using the Life Extension Testosterone Elite, though it will likely take 12 weeks or more to start helping your body to produce some "T" on its own. The thing that you and I, and every other guy in this situation, need to avoid is the use of "exogenous" testosterone like Androgel rather than finding ways to trigger our body to produce its own "endogenous" testosterone, as with the LE Testosterone Elite. Stay away from the products you see on TV like Nugenix, and similar "T" boosting supplements as most of them contain ingredients that can quickly cause cardiac, liver, and kidney issues, often permanent and life threatening. The pomegranate, cacao, and luteolin ingredients in the "Elite" are safe and when taken as directed are quite safe, and all of them help to trigger the body to produce "T", but from within. I never had a drop of negative impact on any component of bloodwork from that product in over two plus years, and at least I know the limited improvement helped my bones to solidify enough to reverse the ostopenia I was developing in my hips after stopping my Androgel, so it's something to be thankful for.

Thanks again for your reply and sharing your story, and I hope things start to improve for you. Either way, stay strong, fight like hell, and don't let this BS defeat you.

Hi My Beatles,
While you were posting 2 days ago, I was having a burst of energy and went for an 8 miler along Lake Ontario. The big yellow thing in the sky, which we lake effect cloud livers, rarely see came out on that beautiful afternoon. But my calfs have been screaming even til today. It was just a walk, not a jog, not intervals, just a little walk. Our lives have changed, but we still have life! And every Day IS a gift. Best Wishes in your fight too!
God Bless Brothers

Thanks.
Not long after I posted my discussion I did my light weight workout, and then continued working on songs for my 13th album. I walk two miles at least every other day, do my weights as often as possible, spend every day with my wife of nearly 50 years, speak almost daily to my son and every weekend to my daughter who lives overseas. As a former athlete selected to play college basketball, and a retired 37 year career English Department Chairperson and professor at the secondary and college levels, I am most definitely one who refuses to be defeated, appreciates my blessed life, and enjoys waking up each morning to a new, hope-filled day. I'm so glad that you also have the attitude necessary to face our common medical challenges and continue to thrive. I wish you the best of luck, and always revel in your area's rare, but sparkling sunshine.

What an amazing life of love, service and music!!! Too bad we are all anonaymous, I'd be interested in listening to a song or two of yours. By coincidence, your name has to do with the Beatles, I love listening to their greatest hits as long as my battery holds out while I walk. Wishing you continued Harmony in your life. God Bless and thanks for getting back to me you've brought a little more joy and happiness into mine today! May others be happy in hearing of your marriage, teaching and music.

I am 73 and had 4-3 in 2 cores and 3-4 in 2 cores all from the area of the 7mm lesion out of a 30 core transperineally biopsy because of my 210 gram prostate. I did the 5 proton treatments at Mayo Phoenix and finished 4/17/2023. I was also on Androgel since 2008 but in my case my endocrinologist had taken me off my Androgel a few years back to see what my system was generating on its own for a month. I was castrate! I also experimented on my own during regular blood work and found that after 60 hours without the gel I was also castrate. I told my radiation oncologist this but he wanted to jab me with Lupron so bad he could taste it and I refused his generous offer. He tested me after I stopped the gel even though studies show that for men over 70 there is no difference in OAS and BCF if you don't do ADT. He tested me and my testosterone level was under 12 ng/dl which is lower than the Lupron shot promises. I tested twice more out to 8 months, and I was still under 12ng/dl. when I restarted my Androgel. My urologist tested all my pituitary hormones, and they were all on the money. They were sending all the signals, but the boys were not answering the call after being off duty so long. I am no doctor, but I would suspect you might not have needed the drugs to suppress your testosterone if your system acted like mine. My 3- and 9-month PSA's were both undetectable. I am hoping that continues because studies show that there is less chance of a reoccurrence if your PSA is very low right away. My PSA when my cancer was discovered was 2.9. Best of luck to you and have a long life.

See my reply to my beatles.

Thanks so much for your replay and your thorough account of your PC "adventure,
My urologist and oncologist both of whom were top level docs, felt that after the radiation a six month course of Firmagon, a much shorter course of the drug than usual, would be the right strategy to make sure the PC was gone, and would provide me with very little chance for recurrence. Considering how quickly my PSA was undetectable, and how that has essentially continued for 3 1/2 years, I believe they were correct. Either way, I'm alive and able to fight my way through the energy loss every day, so I'm grateful for that.

I hope you stay well.