All Systems Go

Great enjoy a couple ,can't beat it ,good for the soul

This made my day.

Thank you for sharing it with us all.

It is entirely possible I will raise a glass to you myself this evening.

That’s brilliant news!

Thanks you all for your well wishes. We had a lovely evening out and are going around with a renewed spring in our step.

I have looked into the drop in Testosterone following radiotherapy. Apparently it often happens. When the levels are tracked from pre radiotherapy then the greatest drop occurs at the 3 month level post treatment with a gradual return over the next 15 to 18 months. There does not appear to be any significance to the level of the drop or the percentage provided a castration level is achieved. There is some debate about what that level is but in the UK the target is less than 1.7, although there is a little evidence that below 1 could be a better target. This then got me looking at testosterone supplementation post hormone therapy and whether there is an increased risk of recurrence - the evidence seems to be no for men with lower risk prostate cancer. I am interested because of the Bipolar Androgen Therapy BAT which is being trialed.

A big WOO-HOO from me!

Enjoy your night out celebrating!

That's really good news xx

Hi AH, glad you had a good evening.  Make the most of the positives I say.  
I am also following BAT with interest and have wondered why studies seem to start at the point of CRPC rather than before that point, particularly as other therapies are ‘hit it hard and early’.  Anyway, good to know there are still options!  David

Hi David. I have been looking at the proposed trials and one of them is with newly diagnosed hormone sensitive men as well to try and sensitise the cancer to make it more sensitive to radiotherapy, chemotherapy or hormone therapy. All these trials seem to be at stage II so a little way to go before it is generally available unless someone knows different.

Back in June I got collared by our GP to have a blood test at the same time as hubby (she is very pro active and I hadn't had one for 2 years). As I have said before, I have a problem with insomnia like many of us partners, but was surprised when my results came back with pre diabetes, high CRP and very high cholesterol considering that we have a good diet. Apparently insomnia can do this. I didn't want to go down the medication route so opted to investigate Intermittent Fasting of which there are different types. To fit in with our summer lifestyle where we like to go out for evening meals I chose the 16/8 where you fast for 16 hours and then eat during an 8 hour period. This effectively meant having lunch at around 13:00, then slotting in my yoghurt or overnight oats which I would normally have had for breakfast at 16:00. We then could have our evening meal. Effectively no change to what I ate, just when I ate it. It also allows you to have break days so that I could have my weekly ice cream treat in the morning - well someone has to sample the new flavours and watermelon was the nicest one this year, but I still can't get them to try licorice. One thing I did learn was that having sugar free drinks which contains artificial sweeteners can break the fast so it was mainly herbal teas and water to drink in the 16 hour window. I normally manage at least 8000 steps a day but am able to swim as well in the summer which helps. I have had a 3 month follow up bloods for glucose tolerance, HbA1C, cholesterol, CRP and everything is back within normal range. In addition I have lost 4.5kg in weight and am sleeping a little better. For me this seems to work but I have to put a warning out there that it may not be suitable for everyone, especially if you are diabetic as it is based on insulin tolerance. 

Wow that’s impressive.  My OH needs breakfast and I like to eat my main meal in the evening so after 52 years looks like we are incompatible!  Seriously, it sounds so simple I might try it to lose some of the weight gain.  My OH doesn’t need to lose weight as she is only a few pounds up on her weight at our marriage, unlike me!  I presume alcohol is banned in the 16 hour fast?  How many naughty days are allowed?  David