Testosterone Myths Part 1: TRT & Prostate Cancer

Introduction

First and foremost, 

MEN, be grateful and thankful for a doctor by the name of Abraham Morgentaler, MD, a Harvard based Urologist, who did most of the studies on Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) proving it to be of benefit and not harmful to men.

Because of Dr. Morgentaler’s research, men can replete their testosterone levels without fear: 

• of developing prostate cancer, 
• or adverse cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attacks, or death,
• or high blood pressure  
• In fact, just the opposite can occur.  

“Morgentaler’s research has shown TRT for men with low T can improve libido, sexual function, muscle mass, mood, and cognitive function”.  A side benefit is better relationships. 

Men often state, ‘I feel more like myself again,’ referencing:

• increased energy, 
• increased cognitive function, 
• increased motivation and ability to exercise, 
• increased recovery,
• better sleep 
• decreased erectile dysfunction, 
• decreased joint pain
• and overall, feel healthier in all aspects of physical health, mental health, and quality of life when on TRT.

This blog discusses a repletion of testosterone to normal levels and its physical and mental health benefits (not an over treatment of testosterone which may be harmful or not).  

Part 1:  Prostate Cancer Myth

Dr Morgentaler’ Research at Harvard University made him a leading expert who overturned past understanding testosterone causes and/or fuels prostate cancer. His research demonstrates prostate cancer does NOT grow faster with higher testosterone levels, and is safe for men with, or treated for, prostate cancer. Morgentaler has published 120 scientific articles on prostate cancer and testosterone. 

Key Research by Dr. Morgentaler

• Low T increases Risk of Prostate Cancer:  Testosterone level  < 300 ng/dl, with a normal PSA <4, puts a man at a higher risk of prostate cancer:     “An increased risk of prostate cancer was associated with more severe reductions in testosterone.” This means if a doctor doesn’t treat your low T, you are at a higher risk for prostate cancer.  Note the men in this study were considered normal healthy men without any symptoms or indications that they may have prostate cancer.  They did have one thing in common and that was Low T!  After reading these statistics, how many of you with Low T would want to be treated?

• Morgentaler biopsied 345 men without complaints, with normal PSA’s, whose testosterone level was equal to 300 ng/dl or less.

         PSA level.      Rate of Cancer Detection by Biopsy

• < or =1           5.6%     
• 1.2 – 2.0         17.5%
• 2.1 – 3.0         26.4%    
• 3.1 – 4.0.        36.4%

 

Testosterone Does not Grow Prostate Cancer Beyond the Saturation Point:

Morgentaler proposed the ‘Saturation Theory of Testosterone’ in men with Prostate Cancer, stating prostate cancer grows until a saturation point of 240-250 ng/d of testosterone, beyond which it will no longer grow.  This is well below a low normal level.  

For 30 years, doctors have believed, based on one case history, the way to treat advanced or metastatic disease is by androgen deprivation (lowering testosterone to as low as it can go). This is the current therapy for advanced or metastatic disease used today.

“Dr. Morgentaler..noticed that lowering testosterone would lower PSA and shrink tumors, raising it (the testosterone level) above a saturation point of 240-250 ng/dl would not cause any further rise in tumor growth, and may simply reset the baseline for PSA. He notes that additional testosterone only stimulates cancer development at the lowest levels of disease development.”

• Safety of TRT with Prostate Cancer: Morgentaler has also studied the effects of giving testosterone to men with prostate cancer.  In one of his first pilot studies, ½ the men with biopsy proven prostate cancer were re-biopsied to find 50% of the men had normal biopsies.  This leads one to believe testosterone does not encourage growth, but may in turn, decrease growth of prostate cancer.

Key Research by Dr. Plymate

• Morgentaler’s work is complemented by the research of Dr Stephen Plymate, a world leader who has published over 250 articles on prostate cancer and testosterone showing a biphasic response of Prostate cancer to testosterone levels.  While low levels of testosterone can fuel cancer growth, supraphysiologic (high-dose) testosterone has been shown in preclinical and clinical studies to paradoxically inhibit cancer cell growth or even cause cell death in certain cases. 
• Taking it one step further, Plymate “views high-dose testosterone as an emerging strategy for treating metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). His work investigates why some patients show a profound response to this therapy while others do not, aiming to identify predictive biomarkers for treatment efficacy.”

Between these two doctors you have over 400 articles on the relationship of testosterone to Prostate Cancer.  Start reading them!  Share them with your friends, family, and your doctor.  Despite all the research showing testosterone does not cause prostate cancer, the FDA has not retracted the warning that testosterone may cause prostate cancer.  This warning has been and is currently being petitioned to be removed from the testosterone label. 

I encourage everyone to also listen to Dr. Morgentaler’s YouTubes, interviews or read his books, ‘The Truth about Men and Sex’. ‘The Viagra Myth’, ‘The Male Body’, ‘Testosterone for Life’.  

The only way to get rid of fear (false events appearing real) testosterone causes prostate cancer is to get more facts until you can make your own decision!  This research has been ongoing for over 20 years.  Read it!

Summary:

The “historical perspective reveals that there is not now—nor has there ever been—a scientific basis for the belief that T causes pCA to grow. Discarding this modern myth will allow exploration of alternative hypotheses regarding the relationship of T and pCA that may be clinically and scientifically rewarding.”     From European Urology Journal ‘Testosterone and Prostate Cancer: An Historical Perspective on a Modern Myth’,  by Abraham Morgentaler, MD, Nov 2006!

Have an exceptional day! Dr. D