#97936 06-22-2009 10:51 PM | Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 33 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP  Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 33 | ok we are 13 months post treatment and god knows we had it rough. My husband is on a downward spiral of depression and I mean the serious kind. I research everything I can but my latest issue is asking for his testosterone to be checked. It was 150 and 300 is low. I saw a discussion about hormone levels on Oprah and since the radiation was close to the glands area I thought it was worth asking about. Well I am shocked all the doctors with the request to check testosterone and low and behold it was crazy low. Since finding out about this I have been waiting weeks to go to another new doctor who will insist on test before giving he treatment. UGH. Or maybe inpatient mental help is the way to go. Has anyone else had these hormones checked? By the way he is taking 90 mg of cymbalta for depression!
Worn out in Georgia | | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 404 Likes: 2 "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 404 Likes: 2 | Hi Cray
Sorry to hear that your husband is having such a rough time. If you type in testosterone in the top right hand corner where is says Search - you will get a number of posts where others have shared their experiences about the similar/same issue.
I'm sure you will get lots of assistance from others here who can assist from their own experiences.
Hope this helps in the meantime, best wishes to you and your husband
Karen
46 yrs:
Apr 07-SCC 80% entire tongue removed,T4N1M0
Neck/D,Jaw Split, Trache 2 ops,PEG 3.5yrs
30 x rad,6 x Cisplatin,
30 x HBO
Apr'08- flap Recon + ORN Mandibulectomy
(hip bone to reconstruct jaw)
Oct'08 1 Plate out-jaw
Mar'09 Debulk flap
Sep'09/Jan&Nov'10/Feb&Jun'11/Jan&Jul'12/Oct'13/April'14-More surgery
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Has his TSH levels been tested for thyroid damage? It is quite common with radiation of that area.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 | Your pituitary gland is the master and commander of all your other glands, and it gets scatter radiation in this whole treatment process. Years after treatment, I found that all my hormones were in the toilet. Obviously the thyroid went completely south since it was in the radiation field, but when my testosterone (the family jewels are far away from the radiated area) tanked, I learned about the pituitary issue. So today I wear daily Anderoderm (testosterone) patches, take synthroid for my thyroid, and see and endocrinologist every 6 months for monitoring the levels of the other hormones we expect to get out of whack as a result of pituitary hypo function. Get EVERYTHING checked at an endocrinologist. Even when you start taking hormone supplements, they need adjusting and changing as time goes by, so retesting initially at 6 months, then annually after the first year is the best plan.
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
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