Q: I am 84 yr old male with good “blood work” results on all except testerone. I had brachy-theraoy for prostate cancer 12 yrs ago. My psa, testerone,libido, and energy level is at or approaching zero! Does this history suggest that it would be dangerous or ill-advised to take testerone supplements?
A: The safety of taking testosterone supplementation after being treated for prostate cancer is not clear. You should discuss this with the doctor that treated your prostate cancer. Together you can determine the best answer for your situation. To read a balanced article about taking testosterone after prostate cancer go to this page at the Harvard Prostate Knowledge site.
(5 votes, average: 3.40 out of 5)
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No doctor here but my opinion for what is worth, I will be a little blunt but my words are sincere and full of good will.
I am having prostate problems too and will have to check it in a few days, the possibilities for cancer is always there, I have three friends who have had prostate cancer recently and were pronounced clear after treatment with a PSA of nearly zero.
On the other hand my testosterone level is very low and has been low for most of my life after an accident, therefore I had to have T for most of my life, but as a bad patient most of the time I didn’t take it, but always was very interested about its effects or lack of it and as a consequence I read all I could about the subject.
Is the hormone that gives the zest for life, the drive energy and ambition, good emotions and energy, makes life pleasurable, to be without it is to be a human vegetable, to be emotionally dead, sex drive is only a fraction of the good it does for a man and woman, mentally and physically.
Now about the age of 80 something, most of us from one reason or another will get eternal rest from this cauldron of life, it is my philosophy that while we are here anything we can do to make our stay more enjoyable it is in our favor, testosterone is one of those things.
You said you PSA is very low, that is good news, prostate cancer is a very slow developing cancer, should you develop it again, you are talking about a long range proposition, a lot of things can happen from now till then, lots of speculations, but one thing that is no speculation is how good testosterone can make you feel right now if you are low.
Chemical castration is used as part of the treatment for prostate cancer which not all doctors adhere to, and nobody has demonstrated that testosterone causes prostate cancer, I have a good doctor who specializes in andropause and he is one of those doctors who speaks in favor of testosterone, mostly from clinical experience which is a long one since he is into his 80’s.
I hope I gave a look at the other side of the coin.
I am strongly in favor of bio-identical hormone restoration for men and women. Regarding the article, these are a far cry from the poisonous horse urine estrogen that “doctors” gave en masse to women which indeed first “harmed” them.