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Post by Tony Crispino on Feb 20, 2014 17:38:44 GMT -8
"You are a zero, a nothing, there is no measurable value whatsoever." That, my friends, is music coming from your oncologist! Thanks Nick! My Biosketch is attached. My biomarkers have been great since being treated for advanced prostate cancer. But my T levels remain low. Yesterday's measurement was 205. Nick says that T levels tend to be high in the morning and drop a bit at night. So if my T levels were 205 at 8:30am when I was tested ~ it is probably dropping below 200 during the day. Normal is 275-800. When I was diagnosed my T level was 219. I have not had normal testosterone levels probably for ten years. But so it is, that after 7 years of remission after a diagnosis of advanced prostate cancer we are going to try to bring my T levels up to a more normal range. I received a script today to make it so. So it is, that if I stop asking for directions, no longer care what shoes are on sale, and I'm fine with the furniture the way it is ~ we will have succeeded in raising my testosterone to a more normal level. |
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Jerry
Junior Member
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Post by Jerry on Feb 20, 2014 19:05:16 GMT -8
Congrats Tony. Hope the t script gets you in normal range. I've been in the 700s for a year or so and am a big fan of the t.
Wonder why some men have low t in their 40s?
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Post by Tony Crispino on Feb 21, 2014 0:17:59 GMT -8
I don't know Jerry. But it's not too uncommon. Hypogonadism is a prevalent condition in men. I have learned it is livable if your have it under long term but addressing it is important. I have never had a higher reading than 325 and it was a one time deal. Typically I have been at 200's and below. I finally get to address this.
Tony
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Post by KC on Feb 21, 2014 6:17:37 GMT -8
Congratulations, Tony...great news!!
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Post by redwing57 on Feb 22, 2014 13:31:44 GMT -8
That's great, Tony - Go low! My T level was about 420 before treatments at age 55, so at the low end of normal but pretty ok. Of course today, it's less than 10, a good response to Lupron and Casodex. My GP's office assistant called me with the test result, very concerned that my T level was REALLY low! I chuckled and said that's great. She said I should keep my upcoming doctor appointment, and I said I sure will.  |
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Jerry
Junior Member
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Post by Jerry on Feb 24, 2014 19:33:50 GMT -8
Tony,
Over the years have you come across a fair number of guys that have enjoyed long breaks from hormone therapy while on IHT? How about others like yourself that have gone several years?
Just trying to put my current HT vacation in perspective.
Thanks,
Jerry
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Post by Tony Crispino on Feb 25, 2014 20:37:34 GMT -8
Jerry,
Sorry for the slow reply. It's been busy at work.
Considering that I had a 90% relapse rate in the Memorial Sloan Kettering projected outcome nomogram, that would suggest that with my data that 10% did not relapse ever. In addition, that because I went with a multi-modal treatment approach I improved my odds. According to those same nomograms, my relapse rate at year 7 biochemical free relapse rate was improved to 50%. Thus half after a multimodal therapy relapsed and half didn't. Keep in mind that MSK did not have the multimodal nomogram until about 2010. But it tells a story that men are doing better and that multimodal approaches are working well.
Now move this over to your case. Even Gleason 9's can live without relapses. But you already had one. What we don't know about you is were you already metastatic when your were detected? How long your remission lasts after stopping is important data and your doing well. According to the SWOG study on men who achieve a durable remission there are cases that never relapsed even after spot radiation was performed on a confirmed lesion. My understanding is that you are a very high risk of relapse. But if you continue to respond as well as you have ~ you have a great reason to keep on keeping on. I've know you over 4 years and from what I can tell you have a lot of ammunition in the magazine. All of the newest 2nd line drugs are at your disposal. Ten years ago your Dx would have been a lot more troublesome.
I'm just happy to call you a great friend. And we should both grow old posting online.
Peace.
Tony
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