Testosterone recovery after ADT

I will ask oncologist and cardiologist about Darolutamide. I had 3 stents placed in circumflex artery in Nov, 2023 and triple bypass in March 2024. So only a year of recovery under my belt. My last 6 month Eligard will be in July. So far psa has been undetectable.

I didn’t realize that your three years were just going to be up in 8 months. You didn’t say that in the Previous message.

It doesn’t make sense to change what you’re doing right now since it’s working so well. Staying on just ADT like Eligard allows you to keep your PSA down to undetectable, so there really isn’t a need for a second drug, at this time.

One thing you might consider asking the doctor to do. Instead of getting an Eligard shot in July, get a prescription for Orgovyx. Use it for the last six months. It allows your testosterone to rise much more quickly once you get off. It will probably do that if you use it for the last six months.

Not sure where you live or how much you’ve spent on drugs already. Orgovyx is a little expensive, if you are on Medicare the maximum you can pay for drugs all year is $2000. With some insurance, you don’t have to pay anything. If you have lower income there are ways to get Orgovyx discounts, Even Bayer has had Discount programs. I know people who have gotten it free for a year.

I’m with you I’ll get PSA tests but that’s it , had a dental cleaning recently, they wanted to take x-rays said I’m done with that too , 60 plus yrs of dental X-rays and never did anything show up for concern.

I m off ADT- agree with your assessment too.

Hello, although my situation isn’t exactly like yours I wanted to share some information about Testosterone and PC in general, I had started TRT, TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY about 13 years prior to being diagnosed with PC. I’ve been severely debilitated from CFS, CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME and FIBROMYALGIA along with CM, CHIARI MALFORMATION since the age of 37. Due to my disease states and other health factors, I already had a very low natural amount of Testosterone in my body. Hence, I started TRT at about age 56. It helped my overall health, happiness, quality of life and wellbeing enormously. Without my TRT, my Total Testosterone level measures between 20-90. Essentially, I am already “Medically Castrated” if not on TRT. When I got diagnosed with PC at age 68, my PSA had been within the ranges of 2 to 4 and in between for about 13 years. Within several months, my PSA went from 4 to 6 and a week after that, to a 7+. Obviously, I was headed in the wrong direction. However, I didn’t feel any different. I had also contracted PEYRONES DISEASE at around age 61-62 prior to being diagnosed with PC and was on a completely different treatment protocol for that. The main point here: I was already taking supplemental Testosterone so I could have some quality of life without having to be mostly home confined and bedridden.
Although Testosterone doesn’t directly cause PC. Once you have PC you must immediately discontinue the TRT because it will feed the cancer. Well, nobody wants to do that or certainly exacerbate their prostate cancer. I had to discontinue my TRT a month before my RALP in October of 2022 and felt horrible. I resumed my TRT 5 months later and within a week felt the same as I had prior to discontinuing my TRT in September of 2025! So, where is all of this going and what does it have to do with you? Regardless of whether you have or have ever had PC, maintaining an appropriate amount of “T” in your body is an absolute must for any man just to maintain overall good health, plus good Mental and Psychological wellbeing and overall attitude, Libido, Muscle and Bone mass etc.
The overwhelming amount of recent and current research strongly supports the assertion with enough testing and patient protocols supporting the evidence that maintaining a healthy level of “T” in your body is essential to help recovery from you PC treatments following surgery and from thereafter,
Given the fact that your Prostate has been removed and if you were fortunate enough from the surgery and results from your surgical labs to support the evidence and conclusion that the surgeon was able to remove 100% of your detectable cancer. Resuming “TRT” or starting some kind of “TRT” can be very helpful to the vast majority of PC Patients.
Personally speaking, without it, I have absolutely NO quality of life to live and feel like “near death” anyway. I’ve been there too many times prior to being diagnosed and treated for PC. I do and will choose quality of life over anything else every single time.
Most importantly, with the cancer removed and the so called, “PSA MANUFACTURING DEVICE” removed from my body, there is nothing left, (the cancer) for the Testosterone to feed!
My PSA right after surgery on 10/25/22 was < 0.014, (undetectable). It remained at that level for 25 consecutive months. It recently went up to 0.019, (still considered undetectable) a few months ago. Ready to get it checked again. There are NO GUARANTEES about anything related to PC.

FACT: One never beats PC or any other kind of cancer. You are either in remission or you are not! Making whatever decisions or determining whatever treatment options you decide will be most appropriate for you are very personal decisions and are based on your own personal life situation, beliefs, risk attitudes and other health factors. The only appropriate decisions and actions you determine to be appropriate are the ones that are BEST FOR YOU!
Listen to others, research, evaluate whatever information is appropriate to you and your case etc and then move forward with confidence feeling secure that you’ve done the best you can. In the end, that’s really the best that any of us can do! I hope that whatever I’ve been able to share brings some level of insight and helpfulness to you and your journey with PC.
Best wishes and kindest regards always,
Phil

After being on ADT for seven years, I don’t think it’s nearly as bad as you say for everyone to have very low testosterone. I never had much fatigue, I don’t have to sleep every afternoon. Yeah, I get hot flashes, I have to go to a gym three times a week to keep my muscles up, Definitely have brain fog, Have to take bone strengthening agents.

All in all I’d rather be alive than have more testosterone.

I never had psychological problems with having very low testosterone, Not everyone does. Sure when I was first told I had prostate cancer I was definitely concerned, anxious, wondering, but I never got me depressed.. It wasn’t until 7 years later before I went on ADT, still never had emotional issue after.

Hi Jeff,

I appreciate your comments. I was actually addressing my need for “TRT” due to other debilitating issues well before I got PC. Unlike you, I can’t go to the gym or exercise much at all because of them. Without being on “TRT,” I wouldn’t have any kind of life at all,
I was actually addressing the majority of people I’ve read about who openly complain how difficult it is for them to be on ADT and the measurably weakening impact it has on their life.
As I also pointed out, every patient is different and they need to find what treatment options best serve their circumstances, needs and choices.
I don’t believe I ever stated or recommended that everybody with low Testosterone undergo “TRT,”. I most definitely stated that having an adequate amount of “T” in a man’s body is necessary to maintain better health and overall wellbeing.
That’s just a medical fact and totally irrelevant to whatever my personal opinion might be or not. Personally, ADT would destroy me. My personal health challenges in addition to having the option of surgery and continuing on “TRT” were clearly my best options. Others, like yourself, pursued treatment options that included ADT as it was apparently your best option.
If there was only one best or appropriate option everybody would be utilizing it.
I think the main point I was stressing was it’s a personal choice.
Secondly, men who don’t have PC and concurrently experience “Low T” seem to benefit more than not by raising their “T” levels to whatever point they find a benefit from it and or feel better.
Frankly, I just haven’t heard of too many men who do great on ADT and or experience very low or extremely low“T!” Most of them being on this site!!
This isn’t a matter of what’s right or wrong, more appropriate or not. It’s simply an objective decision about what makes YOU feel the best you can.
Some men have a better starting point than others and that can affect what choices they make.
I hope and wish nothing but the absolute best for you, your treatment success and overall wellbeing.
Whatever works best for you is really all that matters.
Best wishes and kindest regards,
Phil

It still amazes me how “T” affects all of us SO differently! I had little annoyances while on ADT (6 months) but nothing life changing to speak of - and my T was < 5.
I lifted weights, ran, etc. Yet you, Phil, and others have had such a terrible time with T readings much higher than my measly 5. Also, my spirits actually improved on ADT and I noticed a kinder, less angry me…
But many others sink into funk and depression and it’s a terrible feeling, I am sure. If the quality of your life - yours and no one else’s - is that poor when your T is low I guess you really have no choice but to supplement.
It is scary, however, to wonder if sleeping dogs will stir but I guess you have to see what develops. Hoping the best for you,
Phil

I am not sure what the drug name is but I am supposed to start ADT treatment next week. The Dr says at least three years. I had the prostate removed in January. But there is a 5 mm spot left in the pelvic aera. Then after a few months on the ADT treatment, then targeted Radiation for a stretch of time. The thig that worries me is the loss of strength don’t have a wife to worry about. Pretty much on my own. I am 69 and in good shape but this treatment sounds like it is going to rune the rest of my life. Any thoughts (here in the dark) and they want me to stare statins and baby Aspern another rabbit hole.
Randy

I was on ADT for eight years. I walk twice every day for about a mile and go to the gym three times a week and spend an hour doing exercise with weights. I didn’t start going to the gym until about a year ago, Found I couldn’t get off the floor without leaning onto something heavily. Now I can get off the floor. I get too many hot flashes but I have almost no fatigue. The brain fog is the most annoying issue, but it does not start happening for a while.

Lupron/Eligard/Firmagon/orgovyx (ADT) can cause numerous side effects. Actually due to a lack of testosterone.
Hot flashes
Fatigue
Muscle deterioration
Bone weakening
Brain fog
Depression
Weight gain
Difficulty in breathing

If you start having some of those we can help you with it.

There is a choice other than ADT.

The patch trial Completed in England recently and showed that estradiol worked just the same as ADT, but had many fewer side effects. It easy easier on your cardiovascular system, On your bones (osteoporosis), causes fewer hot flashes and less brain fog. If your doctor has not heard of the patch trial, there is a lot of information about it so come back and we can help you. Estradiol also comes in a gel and injections.