Men with prostate cancer (CaP) have enough to worry about without the thought of facing the rest of their lives with symptoms of testosterone deficiency. Also called low testosterone or hypogonadism, Low T can lead to other more concerning health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, and more. The good news is that the use of testosterone therapy after prostate cancer treatment is a safe way to boost your fallen testosterone levels.
For a long time, many doctors expressed concerns that the use of testosterone therapy after prostate cancer treatment would increase the risk of a recurrence. Numerous studies over the past few years have put those thoughts and fears to rest. Quite to the contrary, testosterone exerts protective influence over the prostate. Think about it like this – prostate enlargement does not begin until after testosterone levels start to decline.
A study of roughly 150,000 men over 40 years of age in the VA database showed that there was no increase in the risk of prostate cancer for those who received testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). 58,617 of the men in the study received testosterone therapy for Low T. After adjusting for various factors, the researchers determined that testosterone therapy with prostate cancer was not associated with incident aggressive or any form of CaP.
Contrary to previous beliefs, testosterone therapy is safe for men with prostate cancer.
Testosterone Influence on Prostate Health
With an estimated 220,000 cases of prostate cancer diagnosed each year (2015 numbers), examining and understanding the influence of testosterone on prostate health is crucial. The population in the US is aging. The Baby Boomer generation has reached a stage in life when testosterone levels decline to the point where symptoms of Low T are possible. With that, we also find urinary issues and enlarged prostate glands. A man is also at an increased risk of developing prostate cancer at this point in his life. That is why the ability to receive testosterone therapy for prostate cancer recovery is welcome news.
What is the prostate?
The prostate is a gland the size of a walnut located under the bladder that surrounds the urethra. One function of the prostate is to produce the fluid used during ejaculation that carries the sperm. By the time many men reach their forties, the prostate increases to the size of an apricot. In one’s sixties, the increase reaches the size of a lemon. At that time, as many as 80 percent of men may suffer from some type of urinary issue.
The most commonly known condition – benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) – occurs when the urethra is squeezed by the enlarged prostate, resulting in a weakened and slow urinary flow. Other issues associated with BPH include:
- Frequent need to urinate
- Urinary pain or discomfort
- Inability to urinate
- Incomplete emptying of the bladder
- Urinary blockage
- Reduced urinary flow
- Frequent nocturnal waking to urinate
Pain associated with BPH often signals some type of infection as that is not a typical symptom associated with this condition.
Hormonal balance is crucial for protecting prostate health. Unfortunately, with all the chemicals in the food and healthcare and household products today, men’s bodies are being bombarded with xenoestrogens. These substances disrupt the hormonal balance between testosterone and estrogen. Since the prostate acts as a filter and helps remove toxins and impurities from the body, it can receive an increased level of estrogen. Excess estrogen can lead to prostate growth.
One benefit of testosterone therapy after prostate cancer is to restore the balance between testosterone and estrogen, which often becomes the leading hormone in the male body when testosterone levels decline. The resulting condition is called estrogen dominance – a situation that arises when estrogen goes unopposed by testosterone. With estrogen dominance, weight gain is often common. A further issue is that estrogen can also influence the development of both cancerous and benign prostate cells.
The body converts excess testosterone into estradiol (estrogen) with the help of the enzyme aromatase – a substance manufactured in belly fat. Another conversion problem that also influences the prostate is dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The enzyme 5-alpha reductase turns testosterone into DHT, which can lead to a buildup in the prostate that triggers the growth of prostate cells. Again, as men age, their testosterone levels decline and DHT levels rise. When you prevent the conversion of testosterone into these two hormones, you help to improve prostate health. Inhibiting that conversion can also help maintain higher, more normal levels of testosterone in the bloodstream.
Stopping hormone conversion of testosterone into DHT and estrogen can help improve prostate health.
Does Testosterone Increase Prostate Cancer Risk?
The use of testosterone therapy after prostate cancer is crucial for men with Low T to balance their delicate hormone levels.
Testosterone and prostate cancer have a complex relationship. Research points to the following facts:
- Men with testosterone levels higher than 250 ng/dL who receive testosterone supplementation do not experience a change in PSA
- Men who have testosterone levels lower than 250 ng/dL who receive testosterone therapy do experience a rise in PSA
What that shows us is that at higher testosterone levels, the prostate is less sensitive to changes in testosterone.
Another reason to look at using testosterone therapy for prostate cancer treatment is the protection afforded by TRT for the heart. For decades after Huggins and Hodges reported in 1941 that testosterone promoted prostate cancer, doctors treated the disease with androgen-deprivation therapy. Although the treatments were beneficial for prostate cancer, they increased the symptoms associated with low testosterone levels. Yes, men had a lower risk of dying from prostate cancer, but their incidence of premature death from cardiovascular disease increased significantly. Untreated low testosterone levels were causing complications with metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, and heart-related issues. On top of all that, many men were dealing with low libido and erectile dysfunction.
The Bottom Line: The use of testosterone replacement therapy for prostate cancer does not increase the risk of prostate cancer or its recurrence.
Can Testosterone Prevent Prostate Cancer?
Although there are not yet enough studies that speak to using testosterone as a prevention tool against the development of prostate cancer, there are some benefits to discuss. If men can maintain higher testosterone to estrogen and DHT ratios, they may be able to prevent the influence of those hormones on the prostate gland.
Of course, prevention is not the same thing as using testosterone therapy after prostate cancer. However, if you can focus on prostate health and balanced hormone levels, you are at an advantage.
The use of testosterone therapy for prostate cancer patients is something to consider because of the action of prostate cancer cells. In many cases, when men receive androgen-deprivation therapy (used to block testosterone), the treatment often works – at least for a while. However, prostate cancer cells often realize that and figure out how to get around it, resulting in prostate cancer cell growth.
Then what is the answer?
According to prostate cancer researchers Samuel Denmeade and John Isaacs, when prostate cancer cells are accustomed to a lack of testosterone, flooding them with high doses of testosterone create a hormone shock, causing some of the cells to die. Those prostate cells that survive make fewer receptors to take in the testosterone. Then, you can cycle back to hormone-lowering therapies to continue killing the remaining cells. Further studies are still underway as not all men react the same, requiring the need for a variety of treatment options.
By maintaining balanced testosterone levels, you can help the body protect itself against the influence of elevated DHT and estrogen.
Can You Use Testosterone After Prostate Cancer?
The decision about beginning testosterone therapy after prostate cancer is one to make with a hormone specialist. Prostate cancer varies – it is not a single illness. Some men have extremely low forms of it that would not be affected by testosterone therapy. The range of illness goes all the way up to metastatic cancer that often spreads to other organs and parts of the body.
The biggest issue to consider is this – what is testosterone deficiency doing to the body and a person’s quality of life?
When prostate cancer treatment suppresses testosterone levels, quality of life tends to suffer exponentially. Hormone specialists believe in using the lowest dose possible that will effectively reverse the symptoms associated with Low T. By doing so, they can help a man improve his well-being, appearance, libido, sexual performance, health, energy, and quality of life.
Is testosterone therapy safe after prostate cancer for you?
The only way to find out is to speak with an experienced hormone specialist. RX Hormone medical center is here to answer your questions, provide diagnostic testing, affordable treatment options, and superior support. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation.