----- Original Message -----

From: Alex Crane

To: natural_prostate_treatments@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 9:09 PM

Subject: [NTPC Yahoo Group] My +AM Approach and Sammy's response

Sammy's reponse to my message below:

[Alex, you can add this boxed comment wherever you like in your post
to NPT. In view of your inability to naturally produce androgen in
sufficient quantity to guarantee getting past the 'inflexion' on the
biphasic curve of PSA+tumor response against androgen it makes sense
to supplement with Androgel. We have seen success with this method
in a few documented anecdotal cases in recent times, plus the
clinical reviews in the literature stretching back fifty years. If
you take this route it is not a bad idea toget a baseline MRI to
ensure you are free from significant metastatic disease that may
flare up if presented with androgen. Eensure you have enough
Androgel prescribed to take your testosterone above the high end of
the range for a normal 30 year old male. You may need double or even
treble the normal dose for a few weeks. What dose you arrive at will
have to be between you and your doctor. However, I do urge you not
to settle for half measures with a doctor afraid to get his toes wet
by prescribing sufficient amounts. For the first few weeks monitor
PSA and testosterone on a weekly basis, but do not be surprised to
see your PSA increase before it stabilizes and decreases. Changed
sensations of pain or discomfort (or lack thereof and you can expect
this too - great!) may also give some indication of occult disease
activity.  A second MRI scan will tell you if increased PSA
is 'friend or foe'.  This protocol gives you the opportunity to
return to the safer waters of androgen blockade should you feel the
need at any time.During androgen supplementation: If you are unused
to high levels of androgen take great care with exercising as the
perception of increased energy and strength can lead to injuries
that may set-back your recovery. Other things being equal, ensure
you have enough exercise to trigger muscle recovery and growth post
androgen block - at least half an hour per day every day of brisk
walking or jogging if you can manage it, plus resistance weight
training three times per week. Ensure you have sufficient protein in
your diet (e.g. post exercise whey protein or soy protein smoothies)
to meet your needs. Ensure you take sufficient rest every day to
assist exercise recovery. In addition to all this you can supplement
with high dose vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) an OTC dietary
supplement that has shown to be effective in cases where men have a
rising PSA after primary definitive treatment. A recent pilot study
by Choo et al in Toronto has thrown up some very important
information which I am trying to get the P2P doctors at prostate
Pointers to comment on. I will post separately on this matter in due
course. That is about all I can say right now, except "Good luck !".
See 21CAPC.pdf or contact me (this applies to anyone) for
clarification of positive androgen management techniques mentioned
above. Sammy
sammy_bates(at)btinternet.com ]

Henry, Richard, Cam, Other Believers in +AM (especially Sammy if
you're looking in),

I'm back from my trip and seeking help with +AM.  First a little
background: I had treatment for local PC in 2000; later PC
metastasized to lymph nodes; Before going on HB, my PSA was 90
doubling about every 5 weeks. I was on HB (Hormone Blockade -Lupron
only) for six months (4/20/05 to 10/20/05) in preparation for +AM.
After HB, I was going to try endogenous (natural, no external T) +AM
but decided to try the "Casodex Catapult" after hearing about it
from Sammy. By taking Casodex, it was supposed to "catapult" my own
T production to get a good start on natural +AM. The theory is
correct however my testes are so atrophied that I have had a dismal
response. After about 3 ½ months on Casodex, my T is only 150 ng/dL
(blood test). This poor response makes me question my ability to do
effective natural +AM and reach anything approaching T=1000.
Therefore, I'm reconsidering my approach to +AM – switching to
exogenous (external T) +AM. I know that Henry and Richard are
successfully using this approach as did a few others (I believe this
is correct) on PIXIE. Cam- I'm not sure of your status- What (and
How) are you currently doing? (hope you don't mind my asking:-) I
believe I have located a Doc willing to give Androgel to a PC
patient and could start this week. Do any of you have any comments
on my decision to try external T versus going the natural route?
Also I think the best T is Androgel (Henry's approach) - any
comments/problems? Henry, I thought you had to get your T higher
than 1000 to maintain a stable PSA?- Maybe you would be willing to
post your file?
Thanks
Alex