bph and prostate cancer

[sduyck_2000 (imported)]

Got back from my doctor today

psa...0.2

blood pressure...120 over 80

cholesteral..190 just below the perfect 200 mark

testosterone 4.4 normal range.....1.8 to 7.8 ng/ml without using androgel

before the blood test on monday

must be quite a carry over on that hormone or I have started to make some elsewhere.I will need to talk to my urologist about that when I see her february 12.

not bad for guy close to 55 .......with many family members that suffer from bph.

Everything I have read says castration cures bph...I am castrated and it looks like I will be the member of my family that will hit 55 with a full head of black hair and a prostate the size of a marble .

My gp cannot believe how small my prostate is in size.It is smaller than a 20 year olds.

That is after 15 years of hrt.

Something is happening with uncastrated men in the testicles that causes the prostate to grow....maybe as men age they make a bad form of testosterone in the testicles or some other hormone that is causing a problem.

I read this article on bph....here is a excerpt...

Observations and clinical studies in men have demonstrated clearly that BPH is under endocrine control. Castration results in the regression of established BPH and improvement in urinary symptoms, but we would'n never advise it since it is a dehumanizing experience.

I have been castrated for 15 years...I never found it painful ...uncomfortable...or a dehumanizing experience.

It has been overall a very good thing...I did need to go on hrt because I was not producing enough red blood cells and it left me out of breath a lot.

Androgel is no big deal and if it proves to be better than my own defective hormones as i age...all the better.

My father almost died on the operating table having his prostate reamed out after fighting not being able to go for 12 years.My grandfather suffered the same and my great grandfather died because of bph.

If I get to 75 without problems because I was castrated I will be the most grateful man to the person who did in my testicles.

It is not a dehumanizing experience if it improves life like it has mine.

Doctors take note.

ps ...I had 3 uncles with prostate cancer...all had the prostate sugically removed...all reoccurred in 2 or 3 years....1 absolutly refused to be castrated ..the other 2 had orchiectomies...The 1 who didnt died 2 years later after trying chemical castration towards the end. 1 of the other 2 died recently age 93....the other is still around after 10 years.

[JesusA (imported)]

I read this article on bph....here is a excerpt...

Observations and clinical studies in men have demonstrated clearly that BPH is under endocrine control. Castration results in the regression of established BPH and improvement in urinary symptoms, but we would'n never advise it since it is a dehumanizing experience.

I passed SDuyck's post on to Richard Wassersug, professor in the school of medicine at Dalhousie University and a prostate cancer eunuch himself. His response is below:

Feel free to let sduyck_2000 know that he isn't the only PCa eunuch in the community.

I sure would like to get from him the reference for the author of the line in his email that castration "is a dehumanizing experience" and challenge that author to prove that "emasculation = dehumanizing"? Sure, it can lead to depression. But "dehumanizing"?! Some of us might argue that the ability to think rationally without invasive animalistic sexual thoughts helps humanize, not dehumanize, the genetic male. Feel free to pass that short rant on to Sduyck and the community in general.

Richard W.

[gandalf (imported)]

I tend to think of my castration as liberating. In my family, I know of no bph problems but that might be because in my family that type of discussion is taboo. Something you keep to your self and your spouse. Of course, at close to 70 my drs are surprised at the smallness of my prostate also, and that was even before my castration. I have used Saw Palmetto for years because it was supposed to keep the prostate healthy. Guess it worked bettert than I thought.

[helen (imported)]

how does one find a qualified MD to perform castration on a human? I have heard that it is against medical 'codes of behavior' to remove healthy tissue. I suspect the procedure could be performed by a first year Veterinary student, but that is an unrealistic source of treatment. I don't wish to travel overseas. I live in CO. I know my question must seem naive, but I am truly clueless where to start looking. best , helen

[DonFL (imported)]

Helen, Dr Kimmel is the primary doctor who does this for many folks here, he is a urologist who does it for most any reason, pain, transgender, out of control libido, etc.

Dr. Kimmel's phone number: (215) 563-0847

Dr. Kimmel's FAX number: (215) 568-4881

He is in philly, PA, so it might be a bit of a drive or plain ride for you.

[kristoff]

Marcy Bowers in Colorado is a transgender woman who is an MD who does transgender surgery. Orchiectomy as a prelude to transgender surgery is not uncommon. I would suggest you contact her.

Contact info someone?

[sduyck_2000 (imported)]

just to clear up a point

i have never had prostate cancer...to get castrated was my choice..i think now after all these years was a great choice

I think doctors freaking out about men asking to be castrated should end...if it can be proven that castrating a man and putting him on hrt is healthier than leaving a man intact..it should be the mans choice.

There is a stigma when a doctor castrates a man...i will never understand why when vasectomy is accepted and perfectly ok.

[sduyck_2000 (imported)]

dr bowers will do non ts males with letters also

helen dr bowers is so close for you..just google dr bowers

[helen (imported)]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have been in touch with Dr Bowers and hope that she will assist. I sent her an interesting book that others may find rewarding-The Advantages and Disadvantages of Castration. The author-maybe deceased by now- Victor Cheney (I think)- had prostate cancer or was on the verge of suffering from it--had an orchi, is a big proponent of the procedure.

No doubt, nearly all men run like from the plague at the mention of the word, maybe instinctively reach down to protect their privates. I understand that most aren't as 'enlightened' as we here. I think also that the urology professions makes a fortune from prostate surgeries--imagine the huge drop in income with simple orchis costing 1/50th of involved surgery.

I may have to have a shrink write supporting documents for Dr Bower's files. Has anyone in our community had this procedure alone with Dr B? thanks, Helen

[kristoff]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have been in touch with Dr Bowers and hope that she will assist. I sent her an interesting book that others may find rewarding-The Advantages and Disadvantages of Castration. The author-maybe deceased by now- Victor Cheney (I think)- had prostate cancer or was on the verge of suffering from it--had an orchi, is a big proponent of the procedure.

No doubt, nearly all men run like from the plague at the mention of the word, maybe instinctively reach down to protect their privates. I understand that most aren't as 'enlightened' as we here. I think also that the urology professions makes a fortune from prostate surgeries--imagine the huge drop in income with simple orchis costing 1/50th of involved surgery.

I may have to have a shrink write supporting documents for Dr Bower's files. Has anyone in our community had this procedure alone with Dr B? thanks, Helen

Not to detract from what you are saying or accomplishing, but I would recommend Vic Cheney's book to anyone who owns an out house. Makes great for toilet paper, but watch out for paper cuts.

My understanding is that Vic Cheney has passed - last year - at ago 89 or 90.