Now here is a Question for you- Does strength training raise Testosterone and therefore PSA?

I recently posted that my PSA has taken a big leap in the last month. But so has my Testosterone.

My last Lupron shot was November 2014. In February I was due for another shot. My Onco and I discussed it and we reached agreement that I could take an HT break.

At the time my PSA was 8 and my T level was <10.

In May my PSA was 5 and my T level was 120.

Shortly after that I started weight training to get back some of the muscle that I had lost. I am working out 3 days a week with a trainer and do cardio a couple of times per week.

Yesterday my test results showed PSA 11.58 and T levels increased to 570. While I know that the body naturally produces T, that is still a significant jump in a month.

When I was talking with my trainer about how do I train and keep muscle if I go back on Lupron, we discussed the effect in the rise of T that accompanies strength training. He has a Masters in Sports Physiology.

I have been researching for the last hour and find countless resources that note the increase in T while being involved in a regimented strength training program. A few of the resources I found also talk about the dramatic upshoot of T following training. The tests I had the other day followed my training by about an hour.

So the question arises, if I stop the strenuous strength training, does my T level go down and subsequently my PSA falls or at least stalls?

I am thinking about taking a one month pause from training to conduct my own clinical trail and then take the same two tests again. I talked this over with my trainer and I am going to do this.

If my T levels go down, I may be able to forestall going back on the drugs for a while longer. Then again maybe not.

While I may find that I need to cut back on the strength training, I can still do cardio type work to stay healthy.

It will be an interesting test if nothing else. And give me something else to do and think about besides farkin Lupron.

Sonny

It is the Catch 22. Boost the T to feel better, suppress the T to control the cancer. Hard to have both concurrently.

I am amazed at the T jump you have experienced. I went from 3 to 117 in a year after HT stopped. Robert-Southern Comfort also had a very quick recovery. He stays in great shape and is younger, but I don't know whether he does strength training. My docs all say the increased physical activity can increase T levels, but they didn't isolate strength training as doing more than other forms.

I wonder how low your T has to be before it suppresses the cancer. When we on HT it is to get to castrate levels generally below 30. Of course, that is not what you want. I have not read anything that shows at what T level the cancer starts to go dormant. Let's say it is 100. How do you get to 100 without HT and how will you feel at 100? I guess that is the purpose of your one man clinical trial.

Have you discussed Avodart with your docs? HD Rider has been using it for some time and has seen his PSA level off trying to delay the next round of treatments.

Thank you all for your input. I can't but think about all of the other things that we discuss here; Pca, treatments, HT side effects, recovery from HT, etc. and the one thing we always come back to is that it is different for everybody. There are no clear cut rules when it comes to the human body.

In my researching I even came across a clinical trial done by the NIH that measured the resulting rise in T between two groups of men. One younger and one older, over a 12 week period of strenuous strength training. The results differed between the two groups by the amount of T rise, but both groups experienced an overall increase in T at the end of the 12 week period.

Granted mine seemed to happen in a month. I may have finally wore off the residual effects of Lupron, but the bottom line is that the jump of 375% is a little on the extreme side. Maybe it is just my physical makeup and maybe some of it was due to the training.

The only thing I lose by not training for a month is 12 workouts. I went an entire year without working out before. I gain the money that I won't be paying out. I am sure I can find a way to put it to good use.

Either way, I win no matter the results of the month waiting,

Sonny

Sonny,

What was your normal testosterone before hormone therapy? I would imagine that your body is just trying to get back to that normal spot vs. any exercising bringing your T up.

Mine was in the 700s before HT and came back to that range about 6 months after my last Lupton shot.

Jerry

I had a t check about a year ago. 370 or so which I understand is the low end of of low. As most of the regulars here know, I have an "extreme" regimen. I would think it{T} would be higher. Obviously my energy level is also "extreme". All I know is I feel great and and the rest of my metrics are good at this time. So I will stay the course. If the river changes course I,ll happily follow where it leads. Its living water after all... pushing the river one way or the other is pointless….. Today is a rare day of rest for me…am using discipline to effect it…Champagne brunch at the Grand Wailea overlooking the south shore…listening to the songs of life…enjoying the joy of locals and visitors alike. Our youngest son{30} is here for a visit…be back in time {or is that forward in time} for the "be the ball} game. Its sunday…. PS I would continue training…my sense is it trumps any negativity fro exercise induced T level. fwiw!

Post Edited (logoslidat) : 6/14/2015 11:13:42 AM (GMT-6)

Viperguy, Jack (JNF) and I have all mentioned Proscar/Avodart to lower DHT while allowing T to rise. May be worth considering, though in my case Tall Allen thought it would be a waste of $$.

"It's not a good idea according to the latest randomized clinical trial.

IADT, dutasteride, and the AVIAS trial — not the result some would want
to hear

prostatecancerinfolink.net/2015/02/17/iadt-dutasteride-and-the-avias-trial-not-the-result-some-would-want-to-hear/

Besides, it's not iADT for you - don't you want to know if the radiation
worked?"

So Allen's copmments to me do not necessarily apply to your situation.