Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 2 of 2 1 2
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 149
trt Offline OP
Senior Member (100+ posts)
OP Offline
Senior Member (100+ posts)

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 149
Why is the patch easier?

Have you experienced any dizziness, headaches or throat pain.

It appears the pituitary is right behind the nose and was possibly affected in my case, too though the Th was pretty targeted and the Endocrinologist was not sure it was. I'll ask the RO.


[quote=Brian Hill]The patch is easier to use than the cream. I noticed a difference in 30 days, and one year later have only adjusted my levels one time. I was floored to find originally 8 years out from treatment that my testosterone levels where in the toilet. I mean the family jewels are a long way away from my area of radiation. But the pituitary is the master and commander gland, and it was near enough to scatter radiation from treatments to go south. That throws off all your hormone levels. [/quote]


Dx 10/06 Adenoid Cystic carcinoma; Stage I. Soft palate/minor salivary glands.
Tx surgery 11/06 Tomotherapy (targeted IMRT) 3/07
trt #83096 10-28-2008 03:18 PM
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,128
Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Offline
Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)

Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,128
I had dizziness when standing up, but what had happened is my high blood pressure dropped as I lost weight. I had to start taking less meds for hypertension.


Age 67 1/2
Ventral Tongue SCC T2N0M0G1 10/05
Anterior Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 6/08
Base of Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 12/08
Three partial glossectomy (10/05,11/05,6/08), PEG, 37 XRT 66.6 Gy 1/06
Neck dissection, trach, PEG & forearm free flap (6/08)
Total glossectomy, trach, PEG & thigh free flap (12/08)
On August 21, 2010 at 9:20 am, Pete went off to play with the ratties in the sky.
Pete D #83107 10-28-2008 04:40 PM
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,912
Likes: 52
OCF Founder
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Offline
OCF Founder
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,912
Likes: 52
Dosing with the patch is exact every time. It doesn't get all over your hands. It does not get on your clothes. The dizzyness comes from the narrowing of your carotids from scar tissue in them from the radiation. Very common in head and neck cancer patients that have had radiation. The only good thing about this kind of partial occlusion of them is that it is scar tissue, wall thickening - Not a fatty plaque that is going to break off and cause a stroke.


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.
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 149
trt Offline OP
Senior Member (100+ posts)
OP Offline
Senior Member (100+ posts)

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 149
Is the dizziness also related to Testosterone shots. I started having strong dizziness a few weeks ago and it's not constant.

[quote=Brian Hill]Dosing with the patch is exact every time. It doesn't get all over your hands. It does not get on your clothes. The dizzyness comes from the narrowing of your carotids from scar tissue in them from the radiation. Very common in head and neck cancer patients that have had radiation. The only good thing about this kind of partial occlusion of them is that it is scar tissue, wall thickening - Not a fatty plaque that is going to break off and cause a stroke. [/quote]


Dx 10/06 Adenoid Cystic carcinoma; Stage I. Soft palate/minor salivary glands.
Tx surgery 11/06 Tomotherapy (targeted IMRT) 3/07
trt #83171 10-29-2008 02:47 PM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8,311
Senior Patient Advocate
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Offline
Senior Patient Advocate
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8,311
I never had any testosterone shots and I was dizzy for a while post Tx.


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.
davidcpa #83224 10-30-2008 10:40 AM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 149
trt Offline OP
Senior Member (100+ posts)
OP Offline
Senior Member (100+ posts)

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 149
I had major dizziness during radiation. I had some light dizziness before shots and Post Tx. It was minor.

The new incidence of diziness one occurred about 3 weeks ago,about 4 weeks after starting shots. I also had headaches and throat pain/discomfort as if from a virus.

I saw the RO and she thought that Tx never affected the pituitary gland or any part of the brain. Does that make sense or is it possible that it somehow got whacked. i.e. is it possible to avoid the pituitary gland when treating the inside of the mouth. (Tx was to soft palate, left cheek, I had hair loss at the back/bottom of the head/hair and left side of the face.

I wonder what caused the testosterone levels to drop if it was not Tx.


Dx 10/06 Adenoid Cystic carcinoma; Stage I. Soft palate/minor salivary glands.
Tx surgery 11/06 Tomotherapy (targeted IMRT) 3/07
trt #84749 11-25-2008 03:20 AM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 149
trt Offline OP
Senior Member (100+ posts)
OP Offline
Senior Member (100+ posts)

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 149
ok so testosterone is now at 500 which is normal however I don't see much change in ability to recover from exercise and fatigue.

I guess it's something else then or could it take longer than 2 months for other changes to take effect.


Dx 10/06 Adenoid Cystic carcinoma; Stage I. Soft palate/minor salivary glands.
Tx surgery 11/06 Tomotherapy (targeted IMRT) 3/07
trt #84756 11-25-2008 09:16 AM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8,311
Senior Patient Advocate
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Offline
Senior Patient Advocate
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8,311
I was weak as a kitten for perhaps 4 months post Tx and then I was Dx'ed with hypothyroidism and started taking meds which helped.


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.
davidcpa #84817 11-26-2008 01:07 AM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 149
trt Offline OP
Senior Member (100+ posts)
OP Offline
Senior Member (100+ posts)

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 149
I am now 18 months post Tx, but 2 mos since starting hormone supplementation.

[quote=davidcpa]I was weak as a kitten for perhaps 4 months post Tx and then I was Dx'ed with hypothyroidism and started taking meds which helped. [/quote]


Dx 10/06 Adenoid Cystic carcinoma; Stage I. Soft palate/minor salivary glands.
Tx surgery 11/06 Tomotherapy (targeted IMRT) 3/07
Page 2 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Eva Grayzel 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Top Posters
ChristineB 10,507
davidcpa 8,311
Cheryld 5,260
EzJim 5,260
Brian Hill 4,912
Newest Members
amndcllns01, Jina, VintageMel, rahul320, Sean916
13,104 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums23
Topics18,168
Posts196,927
Members13,104
Most Online458
Jan 16th, 2020
OCF Awards

Great Nonprofit OCF 2023 Charity Navigator OCF Guidestar Charity OCF

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5