In cancerous prostate cells the same mechanism applies. If the cancer is a low-grade malignancy, the cancer will grow slowly or not at all when the "T" levels are significantly decreased or are non-existant. In certain types of cancer this means years of tumor growth supression. Although, as I have said previously, prostate cancer cells have a way of becoming uneffected by the "T" levels and growing regardless of the "T" levels after a few generations of mitosis.
Happ, what this means is that if you are say, 85 years old, and you crop up with a type of prostate cancer that responds to a reduction in "T" levels, the orchiectomy may be the perfect treatment for you.
However, if you are only 30 years old and you already have prostate cancer, orchiectomy will only buy you time. Maybe 5-10 years, according to circumstances. As Andrew says, "your mileage will vary".
HOWEVER, In a man castrated after his reproductive years, say 35-40, castration will almost certainly ELIMINATE the possibility of prostate cancer if he does not already have it because the cellular tissue out of which prostate cancer arises, namely the prostate gland, is shut down completely. This means that castration in certain individuals can most definately prevent prostate cancer. But, who knows the future?
On the other hand, if we have a cardiac by-pass graft now, when we are not diseased, then we will not have to have one later. We can argue that also. Barring a STRONG familial history of prostate cancer, unnecessary surgery is still unnecessary surgery as far as medicine is concerned. If you have a STRONG history of prostate cancer you have a STRONG argument for castration, but it is not as strong as it would be if prostate cancer were a deadlier disease. Want a castration?...then...argue a STRONG family history of prostate cancer.
I hate to post this here, but it is true.
A-1