My oncologist says NO testosterone-says it can cause the cancer to come back

[BeachTech]

I'm four years post-chemo. All is good except I have NO drive (which is completely opposite of me pre-cancer), I am ALWAYS tired despite eating healthy and working out, and I am injurying myself constantly (tendonitus, etc).

Six months ago, my testosterone level was tested and it was just below the low-level threshold. My oncologist tells me that T therapy could "wake up" any sleeping cancer like throwing gas on a candle.

I am seeing my oncologist tomorrow (Wed, Oct 7) and I am going to have a talk with her. If what she is saying is true, at this point I want to take my chances. I'm 37 and I feel like I am 57, and I am a very healthy weight, and I eat healthy and workout.

Anyone else heard this ideology? Is testosterone therepy dangerous to TC survivors? Any input?

[Kiwi]

Mate

Guess anything is possible but......this sounds very very suspect and totally bull to me. Even if there was a chance of this I would go with the Testosterone replacement.

It is always recommended that x2 guys get on the Testosterone without delay

Get to another doctor, seek a more informed doctor and inform yourself and pursue the testosterone replacement.

I have never seen anything like this statement with all my resarch and I would 99% that none of the guys here on Testosterone would have been given this story before.

Regards

Kiwi

[nickohs]

Kiwi is right, your doctor is not correct.

There has been no evidence, scientific,or otherwise, that Testosterone therapy causes recurrence in Testicular Cancer cases.

The likely fear your doctor expresses is in relation to Prostate Cancer, where it had been thought Testosterone causes Prostate Cancer. It does not. There is plenty of research available to debunk this theory.
It is very wise, however, to monitor the Prostate as we age, because should Cancer begin, Testosterone willexacerbate it. Early detection is the key here, because like Testicular Cancer, if the tumour is confined to the Prostate, life gets back to normal, and Testosterone therapy can be resumed, with appropriate follow-up.

I hope this helps

Nick

[Kiwi]

Yes Nick is right – perhaps the doc is getting mixed up with Prostate (Forgot about that when I replied, was also a bit fired up by what you have been told though), either way I would get to another doctor, Some info on who should not get Testosterone replacement on this page http://www.andrologyaustralia.org/pa...LOWTESTREPLACE there is other good easily presented information on this site too.

Cheers

Kiwi

[Aegletes]

I'm appalled at what your doctor told you. I've never encountered any suggestion of what your oncologist said in my own readings or discussions with my urologist and oncologist, the latter one of the top in the TC field. I could understand if some mention had been made of prostate cancer risk (a risk all men with good testosterone levels face as they age), to Nick's point, but certainly not TC.

[Aegean]

There are other potential side effects to TRT, but increased TC cancer risk, as the gentlemen above have pointed out, is not one to worry about. As opposed to cancer, the potential risks are much more mundane and should be discussed with a qualified urologist or an endocrinologist. Personally, although he should be aware, I don,t believe this to be the field of the oncologist.

[Fed]

Originally Posted by BeachTech

My oncologist tells me that T therapy could "wake up" any sleeping cancer like throwing gas on a candle.

Absolutely ridiculous, unless he was thinking about prostate cancer (and that may even be a stretch).

[jim w.]

my advice to you is run from this guy. He doesn't know what he's talking about. You should join the Yahoo "hypogonadism" group and post this question. The hypogonadism group helped me out BIG TIME!

There's and excellent database full of knowledgable doctors in a man's hormones. I think there's a particulaly good one in LA. Check it out. Just don't bother with this doctor.

PM me and let me know how it goes. Good luck

[BeachTech]

Wow! Thanks for all the replies. I read them before I saw my Oncologist. I went in there prepared to prove my case with all these replies and other info I had gathered. But I didn't need to. When I told her the symptoms (low libido, low energy, frequently muscle/tendon injuries) she was good with it. I am seeing my Primary Care Physician tomorrow. He could prescribe the HRT, but I think I want to see a endo since this can be complicated. Also, I have a pre-op testosterone test number so we can start there . If I remember correctly, my pre-op was around 1200, now I am in the low 300's.

BTW, I'll have been reading the posts in the section a lot over the last few days. I have one question. Can you have low T and not be depressed? I am four years out. From years 0-3, I was quite depressed. Lately (last six months) I have been generally more happy than my friends/coworkers (without any medications).

It seems that most of the people in this forum complain about being depressed when the T is low. I may have just learned how to "cheer myself up" by thanking God everyday that I have a good job in this crappy economy, and my wife and especially my 2 year old daughter help cheer me up. Also, this summer our family decided to do a bunch of "stay-cations" (inexpensive local day trips to amusement parks, beach, etc.) rather than an expensive vacation. While it saved us money, it was the most fun summer ever. So, this may account for my cheerfulness, but I definitely have all the other symptoms of low T.

Thanks everybody!

[Aegletes]

The word "depressed" is often used very broadly, so much so that what one person describes as a depressed feeling might not ring true as such for someone else. I'd rather be more specific in describing how I felt when my testosterone was low before beginning TRT (coincidentally or not, just three months before I was diagnosed with TC in the surviving testicle): It was a feeling of lethargy, lack of motivation, short temper, difficulty concentrating on tasks, impatience, difficulty remembering even trivial things, all this in addition to the classic symptoms of diminished libido or lack of nocturnal erections. Many people would describe these as classic depression-like symptoms even though they might have been otherwise OK most of the time. Others would add hot flashes, night-time sweating, and difficulty sleeping to the list of low-testosterone symptoms.

Alex

[dogy]

Originally Posted by BeachTech

Also, I have a pre-op testosterone test number so we can start there . If I remember correctly, my pre-op was around 1200, now I am in the low 300's.

that is a big drop. But 1200 is also pretty high. I assume you had your preop level checked while you had tc. because i think TC can cause increase testosterone in some cases. Did the doc note the condition of your remaining testicle eg normal size, no atrophy, or belief it was undescended.

[AdrianE]

Hello there,

I've been catching up on your thread, and I'm very glad to hear that your hormone needs are being addressed properly. Once you get a HRT program up and running, you may be surprised at how much better you feel mentally as well as physically.

Adrian

[phillymorris]

even if TRT did cause prostate cancer in later life i would have testogel now. 30 years of feeling like crap just in case there could be a link? i know which i would chose.

[ramfan13]

I also had a Dr. that did not want to prescribe anything. I think I am borderline at about 300 total testosterone, but have many symptoms getting worse since my orchiectomy about 5 years ago. I have so much fatigue, depression, pain I dont know what to do. I no longer see my oncologist since I had sertoli cell and they did not recommend any further follow up.
My question is what kind of Dr. should I see to get supplementation with testosterone. Would it be urologist or should I just get a different primary that will give it to me. At this point, i dont care if it would cause cancer I feel so bad already, I will try anything to feel better. I am 46 by the way. Thanks.


John

[Aegletes]

You need to see an endocrinologist who has experience treating men for low testosterone. Pre-screen the doctors you consider by asking, when scheduling, how many men he or she treats. Bring with the AACE guidelines for hypogonadism and make sure the doctor understands them and tests you accordingly.

[oneballer]

All this talk about testerone is scaring the crap out of me . I got my results back 187 so I need it . But I'm worried about the side effects. It's bad enogh I have no drive AT ALL. Will this work ? does it work ? it's been 2 yrs since my RPLND and in the last 5 months I felt a change in my body . This explains my feeling weird . Has anyone had adverse side effects ??And if so how bad were they ? Please advise Thanks


Pat