Low testosterone and HRT
Posted , 4 users are following.
I am expanding on another thread about osteoporosis and HRT, this time on a slightly different direction. My question is now about the side effects of HRT in general and the risk of cancer and prostate cancer in particular.
Of course the specialist will have the last word, but I'd like to hear from somebody who is on HRT , if possible..
I am a 75 yrs old man, in excellent health and very active, lots of energies, except that I have been diagnosed with advanced osteoporosis of which I was totally unaware, since in the course my physical activities I am usually submitting my body and spine to flexions , torsions and all sorts of movements, even falls, and yet I never had any problem ( fractures), even though my activities ( including windsurfing) are considered a high risk for " extreme" osteoporosis, as the DXA report defines my condition...
My total testosterone level, from a blood test , although" norma"l for my age, is rather close to borderline . As low TT is one of the possible causes of osteoporosis , my hematologist mentioned the HRT option but preferred to refer me to a bone specialist and possibly an endocrinologist.
I'll see them soon.
Since the HRT question may come up again, I'd like to have more visibility about the possibility of negative side-effects of HRT , particularly prostate cancer, on the basis of patients personal experience , if possible, and not only on the basis of clinical studies, since 100% causal correlations are nearly impossible to reach in science, due to its stringent empirical evidence criteria and the debate will always rage
As a matter of fact, some doctors seem to think the risk of prostate cancer with HRT in men is overblown because , if it exists, it is only when cancer is already there and the HRT can indeed, in this case, contribute to the proliferation of cancer cells , in the end causing the cancer to spread even faster.
The reasoning, which I find fairly convincing, is that prostate-cancer affects only ( or mostly) elderly people with low TT and not young pople with a normal high level.
I also get my prostate checked by a urologist once a year . So far no cancer, only a moderate BPH ( enlarged prostate) with a PSA steady at 8.
If somebody of approximately my age is or has been on HRT , I'd like to hear his comments
Thanks
Ittiandro
0 likes, 4 replies
Guest ittiandro
Posted
Um, think you are on the wrong site, this is "women's" health and HRT. I don't think any of us have a risk of prostate cancer. Maybe there is a "men's" section?
Good luck!
ittiandro Guest
Posted
Oops
if this is a health site for women, I'll stop posting on male-only issues , but I didn't realize it, since usually health Forums are ..co-ed and in most cases the difference doesn't matter.
Guest ittiandro
Posted
Yeah, this is for women and menopause issues.
I'm sure you will find a men's hrt forum that might be able to help you better then the women on here. Hope you get your answers.
sheryl37154 ittiandro
Posted
Hi ittandro, you may have asked your 'male' question on a 'female health' forum but I can give you my husband's experience.
After being treated for Hodgkin's Lymphoma with chemo and radium, eventually my husband was found to be very low in TT. He also has haemochromatosis which affects the pituitary gland, and therefore hormones. So he was prescribed TT in the form of injections. It is an very important hormone to maintain.
While his father died from prostate cancer (untreated), his very good gp and urologist has no problem prescribing TT to him. He has been on it for at least 12 years now, and his last PSA (results that I can find) at 8/07/16, is 0.68 ug/L within a ref range of 0.30-5.5. In fact it appears to be going down from 1.2 at 19/2/15 with some tests in between reflecting the same downward results.
He will be 70 later this year and the pathology notes say:
In men aged 65-69 years, the median total PSA is 1.3 ug/L.
He also has vit B12 injections because he cannot absorb vit B12 by other means, and between the two of them his health, outlook on life, and well being improved dramatically. He does not have any sign of osteoporosis.
His gp constantly monitors him. His main problem is urinary frequency but his prostate does not indicate a problem. He has also had a special MRI for prostates which also had very good results - very little increase in size for a man of his age.
It has been said that if a man lives long enough, he will eventually get prostate cancer but not necessarily die from it.
In case, you ask another question, I cannot respond for more than a month because we are going overseas tomorrow.
Good luck with it.