Question for my Dad

[MattD]

My Dad is battling cancer, and is about to start radiation treatments (he's already had 2 operations and chemo-Merkle Cell Carinoma-in his lymphnode-right side of his head), he's been losing muscle and may be in atrophy. He had to go to a Neurologist because his legs are hurting pretty bad and he can't walk around very well..(he's also diabetic, and since the chemo, the diabetes has gotten 3x's worse)...
My question is that the Dr had him on Test Cyp...100mg every 2 weeks for HRT...is this enough?...I told my Dad to ask him about increasing it because that doesnt sound like it'll do anyting. Does it affect the cancer at all or will it make any difference...he's 57 years old and before he got sick had lost 65 pounds and started exercising regularly.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Phil 4:13

[zippman]

Matt,
So sorry to hear about your Father. I personlly know and empathize with you for what you're going through, due to my Father being in the same boat a few years back.

I am also interested in this question due to my understanding that testosterone can cause the cancer, especially with prostate cancer, to speed up and become more aggessive so to speak. Very interested in knowing if this is exclusive to prostate cancer or does it hold true for other forms of cancer as well.

***Go Big or Go Home***

[SWALE]

First, please let me respond to Zippmann's statement. There is ABSOLUTELY no evidence that testosterone causes cancer. I have already lost several patients, who called me to break their initial office visit, because their PCP's told them "if you take testosterone it will give you cancer". It absolutely amazes me that any scientifically trained mind would make such an ignorant statement. There not only is NO evidence that testosterone does this, there actually is plenty that maintaining a healthy testosterone level is protective from the development of cancer. If the offending physician is so completely ignorant of this fact, they should simply keep their mouths shut. I mean, would they be pooh-poohing a new chemotherapy protocol, for instance, that they are not qualified to comment on? This is the same kind of thinking which caused the conventional medical community to throw Joseph Lister, MD out of medicine, for daring to suggest that perhaps it would be a good idea for Surgeons to actually wash their hands, and change their blood and feces soaked gowns between surgeries.

Okay, we hit a raw nerve in 'Ol Doc SWALE with that one.

This is a different situation, entirely, because we have a gentleman here who has already been diagnosed with CA. I don't believe any HRT doctor would initiate TRT in a patient such as this. Yet this patient is already on testosterone supplementation. In this case, I would choose to maintain the current TRT regimen, because discontinuing same would further compromise immune function. As always, however, this is a matter to decided between the patient and his own physician.

My hopes and prayers are with your father, MattD.

ANY INFORMATION I MAY GIVE IS JUST FOR SHITS AND GIGGLES AND DOES NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR A PROPER EVALUATION BY A QUALIFIED PHYSICIAN, NOR DOES IT CONSTITUTE DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP, OR LIABILITY, IN ANY WAY.

[MattD]

Thanks for the response and prayers.....do you think that the TRT is enough?...I mean 100mg every 2-3 wks sounds like it barely does the trick plus the age and condition...just curious

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Phil 4:13

[SWALE]

Well, first you said 100mg every two weeks. If it is three weeks, then he definitely should get his doctor to adjust his dosing schedule.

I don't think I could be more plain than when I said he should stay where he is at with the dosage of 50mg per week.

ANY INFORMATION I MAY GIVE IS JUST FOR SHITS AND GIGGLES AND DOES NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR A PROPER EVALUATION BY A QUALIFIED PHYSICIAN, NOR DOES IT CONSTITUTE DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP, OR LIABILITY, IN ANY WAY.

[cruzin]

Sorry to here about your dad bro! MY prayers are with you!!

[IronRhino]

I'm familiar with you through SBI although I've sort of been away from many of the boards I frequented. I recently underwent a potential cancer scare, a PSA reading of 4.5 versus a PSA reading of 2.3 six months prior. After the referral to the uro, the humiliating rectal exam, the painful ultrasound, and the even more painful prostatic biopsy (BTW, the lab misplaced the specimens--just wonderful, isn't it?) and then dealing with the subsequent anxiety dreading the prospect of having to repeat the procedure. Finally, Friday, I received a call from the uro's nurse informing me the specimens were located and the pathology report indicated no presence of any cancers yet he placed me on Bactrim for a month, to treat something which I'm still in the dark about. In a week I plan to see my primary care physician hoping he can enlighten me further yet in the mean time I tabled any test cyp injections. I undertook to research prostate cancer from various websites. I actually worried that cycles might have caused the dilemma subsequently learning my understanding was in error. Thank you for bringing this information to the forefront.

BTW, may I shoot you an email about a concern I have? I would only use a hushmail acct and send it encrpted? Can you do encrypted messages? Thanks.

[MattD]

Thanks, for the reply....I asked my Dad and it was the later....

[Spook]

MattD, I wish the best for your dad and your family. You have the prayers of lots of people bro.