Men's Health Forum: This is a discussion on Finnish Study on Testosterone and Prostate Cancer within the Anabolic Steroids forums, part of the extensive steroid information at MESO-Rx; I have seen a number of studies that have (finally) started discounting the supposed association between testosterone and prostate cancer, ...
I have seen a number of studies that have (finally) started discounting the supposed association between testosterone and prostate cancer, but had not previously seen this one. While it is dated from 1999, it is also a study from Finland so that may have accounted for it. Possibly other Board members have seen this specific study, but for those who haven't:
Serum testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin concentrations and the risk of prostate carcinoma: a longitudinal study.
Heikkila R, Aho K, Heliovaara M, Hakama M, Marniemi J, Reunanen A, Knekt P Kanta-Hame Central Hospital, Hameenlinna, Finland.
BACKGROUND: It has been hypothesized that high androgen levels are determinants of prostate carcinoma.
METHODS: Serum concentrations of testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and androstenedione were analyzed to determine their role as predictors of prostate carcinoma in a longitudinal, population-based, nested case-control study. The serum concentrations of testosterone, SHBG, and androstenedione were determined from serum samples collected by the Finnish Mobile Clinic Health Examination Survey between 1968-1972 and stored at -20 degrees C. During a follow-up period of 24 years, a total of 166 prostate carcinoma cases occurred among men who originally were cancer free. Two controls (matched for age and municipality) were chosen.
RESULTS: There was no association between serum testosterone, SHBG, or androstenedione concentrations and the occurrence of subsequent prostate carcinoma in the total study population or in subgroups determined based on age or body mass index. The association was not strengthened by simultaneous adjustment for the hormonal variables.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study do not appear to corroborate the hypothesis that serum testosterone, SHBG, or androstenedione are determinants of the subsequent occurrence of prostate carcinoma.
Cancer 1999 Jul 15;86(2):312-5
What I found intersting was that this study dealt with a large group (collected over the years of 1968 - 1972) that were then followed for 24 years and a total of 166 cases of prostate cancer developed. And the results of the study were that "results of the current study do not appear to corroborate the hypothesis that serum testosterone, SHBG, or androstenedione are determinants of the subsequent occurrence of prostate carcinoma"...
Larry
P.S. Would be interesting to have a "sticky" established where studies on specific topics coud be posted - and continuously added to. For example a sticky on this topic with the various studies posted that show that studies in fact show that testosterone is not a cause of prostate cancer or BPH, etc. A member could then copy and paste the various studies and then print them out for his doctor if that would become necessary... Just a thought.
Great idea... but you are preaching to the choir here. I tried to interest my US Representative in a few studies on Andro a couple of years ago, but he just discounted me. He had better studies. Nothing more disquieting than what I think will start to happen in earnest now. I think there is going to be a major attack by Big Pharma and the dupes on health in our nation.. or men's health would be better said. Get ready. You cannot sell Proscar to men without BPH.
big pharma is already on the attack what are u talking about...... they got doctors trying to hand 15 year old kids high blood pressure medication (this is true) ............. and there now trying to get red yeast rice banned because people are starting to find natural ways to fix there problems and not take drugs......... they will brib someone and watch all vitamins and supplements will be banned and we will all be popping purple pills.........
I do not know whether to print this out to have my doctor read it or to roll up same print out and shove it up his ass. He thinks TRT will increase my chances of getting prostate cancer.
__________________
All male doctors need to be on a one year cycle of Proscar and Androcur. Maybe then, a hypogonadal man would be treated with the same care given to other patients.
The present study suggests that prolongued use of high
dose exogenous androgens causes disproportionate growth
of the inner, but not the whole, prostate. This regional expansion
occurs in the region known to be the histological
origin of benign prostatic hyperplasia, but whether such
enlargement as we have observed is reversible and/or has
any relationship to the early lesions of BPH is at present
unclear. In contrast, prostate cancer most frequently originates
in the peripheral (posterior) zones of the prostate, but
whether chronic AS abuse alters the risk of prostate cancer
(33) remains unknown. Our findings do indicate, however,
that among AS abusers, medical monitoring of prostatic effects
by digital rectal examination and/or PSA measurements
would be inadequate to effectively monitor the effects
of androgen, which would require ultrasonographic evaluation
of the inner prostate region. These observations pertain
to the ingestion of very high doses of multiple androgens,
well above the recommended doses characteristic of AS
abusers doses. In contrast, current evidence suggests that
maintenance of physiological androgen levels, such as during
androgen replacement therapy or potentially in androgen
supplementation in aging men or hormonal male contraception,
is unlikely to induce excessive prostatic effects;
however, additional studies of regional sonographic changes
in the prostate are needed.
The present study suggests that prolongued use of high
dose exogenous androgens causes disproportionate growth
of the inner, but not the whole, prostate. This regional expansion
occurs in the region known to be the histological
origin of benign prostatic hyperplasia, but whether such
enlargement as we have observed is reversible and/or has
any relationship to the early lesions of BPH is at present
unclear. In contrast, prostate cancer most frequently originates
in the peripheral (posterior) zones of the prostate, but whether chronic AS abuse alters the risk of prostate cancer
(33) remains unknown. Our findings do indicate, however,
that among AS abusers, medical monitoring of prostatic effects
by digital rectal examination and/or PSA measurements
would be inadequate to effectively monitor the effects
of androgen, which would require ultrasonographic evaluation
of the inner prostate region. These observations pertain
to the ingestion of very high doses of multiple androgens,
well above the recommended doses characteristic of AS
abusers doses. In contrast, current evidence suggests that
maintenance of physiological androgen levels, such as during
androgen replacement therapy or potentially in androgen
supplementation in aging men or hormonal male contraception,
is unlikely to induce excessive prostatic effects;
however, additional studies of regional sonographic changes
in the prostate are needed.
I would print these out and show them to your doctor and point out that this isn't some type of folklore, that this IS the modern research from today (when was the last time he had any educating on the prostate and on the pros / cons of TRT? Since medical school? Maybe a seminar that he half paid attention to 15 years ago??). And simply point out that if he is so set in his ways that he cannot stay modernized with updated research (which we as primarily latman are able to do!) then you will have to seek a different treating physician.
Unless these androgen studies that report prostatic hypertrophy disclose E levels and ratios, I am not interested. Raising FT is a fantastic way to raise E, works every time.
Unless these androgen studies that report prostatic hypertrophy disclose E levels and ratios, I am not interested. Raising FT is a fantastic way to raise E, works every time.
That's interesting.
Most info that I have seen indicates that lowering E levels will raise Free T (as lowering SHBG will also raise Free T). When I was on the same dosage of T (7.5 grams AndroGel at the time) and started taking Nettles Root extract, my E2 levels stayed the same while Free T Percentage went from pretty good to actually above the reference range and was actually in a very good level even though Total T was only moderate. DHT remained at the high end of the normal range (unfortunately didn't have the DHT tested prior to starting the Nettles Root extract - doctor at that time didn't believe in testing it... getting him to test for E2 was like pulling teeth). E2 levels remained (at that time) in the high 20s. As I have since switched to 100 mg of Test Cyp once weekly, and am awaiting first follow-up labs, I can't say that those particulars continue to exist at those levels.
Anyway, the Finnish study had nothing to do with TRT or raising Free T levels, etc. It just developed that there was no correlation between prostate cancer and testosterone levels in the study population and specifically those in that population that developed prostate cancer.
a lot's going on..way too many studies..different points of view..different clinical abstracts.
to have a biased inclination based on what we've seen is not an indicative definite answer to draw bottom line conclusions....
from an impartial perspective it'd be advisable to circumvent the whole topic....
end.
people rely on medical expertise professionals to tinker with their bodies...simply put studies quantity does not justify righteousness...nor preceding textual science fills the gaping conventionalism.
Finnish Study on Testosterone and Prostate Cancer 
Linear Mode
