Cancer survivor seeking advise

[Rikki1961 (imported)]

Hello everyone I'm a 62 y/o who has already received radiation treatment for prostrate cancer. I'm considering castration for several reasons. The obvious one is to eliminate testosterone to prevent any more cancer and the next is to eliminate any sex drive I might have. I'm a non binary person and I don't feel like I have the correct parts anyway. I already have ED and really have no use for my male parts. I would love to have breast just to feel more like a woman.

My main concern is what mental state would the lack of testosterone leave me with. Would I depressed or foggy headed. I would appreciate if anyone can advise on what to expect.

Thanks for reading

[TopManFL (imported)]

Hello everyone I'm a 62 y/o who has already received radiation treatment for prostrate cancer. I'm considering castration for several reasons. The obvious one is to eliminate testosterone to prevent any more cancer and the next is to eliminate any sex drive I might have. I'm a non binary person and I don't feel like I have the correct parts anyway. I already have ED and really have no use for my male parts. I would love to have breast just to feel more like a woman.

My main concern is what mental state would the lack of testosterone leave me with. Would I depressed or foggy headed. I would appreciate if anyone can advise on what to expect.

Thanks for reading

Hey @Rikki1961

Welcome home. This is the right place to get other's ESH (Experience, Strength, and Hope). Please remember that what you will read here is very heartfelt and personal but, in most cases, it will not be from a nurse nor doctor.

In many ways that is good - you will be getting the information from people who've been through what you are contemplating.

I am so sorry to hear about your cancer. It sounds as if you have gotten appropriate care and that is comforting.

Please stay around. Sometimes the answers come slowly. Further, you need time to digest the information you get here.

You have brought a serious question on an extremely serious subject and I assure you this community will give it the serious attention it deserves. I do want you to know that the group also has its lighter sides and we often have a bit of fun. Don't let that think you are not being taken seriously. You are already a valuable member of this group. We need you here - people who come in the future need you to be here to share your ESH.

[seanthomas (imported)]

Surgical castration was the mainstay treatment for Pca up until around 1980 when androgen depravation therapy (ADT) was achieved with various chemical testosterone blockers. Now bilateral orchiectomy accounts for only about five percent of ADT. There is a wealth of information available on the internet not to mention support forums for prostate cancer survivors. As for chemical versus surgical ADT both have virtually the same side effects. However, surgical is a one time treatment whereas chemical requires frequent visits to your doctor for as long as you on on their drugs. Hmmmm wonder why the doctors push chemical?

Each person reacts to testosterone depravation differently so don’t believe everything you read. As frequently stated here..... your mileage may vary. For me estrogen replacement worked well in a three month trial after castration and I am now on a long term treatment protocol of low dose estradiol.

Free free to visit my blog at www.eunuchlife.blogspot.com and read the older posts about my observations. It may answer a lot of your questions.

[JesusA (imported)]

A good overview of the effects of androgen deprivation (e.g., castration without hormone replacement) can be found in the book Androgen Deprivation Therapy by Richard Wassersug and his colleagues. It’s available as an inexpensive paperback.

I wrote to Richard to ask his advice on how best to reply to your question. He suggested that you go to the website

www.LIFEonADT.com (http://www.LIFEonADT.com) and sign up for the free 1.5 ADT education class. For those who sign up with an address in Canada, they will send you a free copy of the ADT book

If you (or any other interested EA member) are in Canada and are looking for an MD to do an orchiectomy and want it from someone who would be supportive of your personal desires and proclivities, you could check out:

http://www.vch.ca/Locations-Services/result?res_id=1457

Richard also wrote that he would be happy to communicate directly with you. While he asked that I not post his email address here, his address is easily searchable on the Internet. Richard is a retired professor of medicine. He has been conducting research on the eunuch community for 20 years. He has more than two dozen articles on castration and eunuchs in print.