It’s time I updated the Prostate Cancer Blog to answer questions and comments that have been coming in.
1. Normally piercing a testicle with a needle would be to take a sample of tissue for a cancer test. Talk to your Urologist. Chances are that he will get in touch with you or see you on your next appointment.
2. Shrinking your testicles would normally be done only to reduce your production of Testosterone. This is done to reduce the testosterone being supplied to the Prostate. Too much testosterone can cause prostate cancer to grow more quickly. Eleminating the production of testosterone will not only shrink the testicles down to practically nothing but will help shrink the prostate back to a more normal size and stop the cancer cells from growing. This will allow the cancer Doctor to insert the radioactive seeds into the prostate to kill the cancer all together.
3. The Urologist can give you a series of shots to shrink your prostate. This will also shrink your testicles a great deal. This is necessary to slow down or stop the production of testosterone which, in turn will shrink the prostate.
4. You ask about shots to shrink your prostate. See the answers above.
5. If you want testosterone shots to increase your production of testosterone you will have to discuss your concerns with your primary care doctor. This is a very important issue and must be handled by a real doctor. They have the necessary information to help you with this problem.
6. Inserting needles in the testicles was answered above.
7. A biopsy needle is a special hollow needle to collect samples of whatever organ is suspect of causing you a problem.
8. Elimination of your testosterone will cause the things I have talked about above but it will also cause you to have hot flashes and to think your going to melt. Thats what it did to me. That has gone away and my testicles are growing back to their origional size and the hot flashes are nearly gone. I don’t know yet how long it will take for me to regain my (libedo) but I anxiously await the future. I no longer have to fight to urinate and the heat in the bladder and uretha are nearly gone. The radioactive seeds are still active but have cooled off and are no longer causing swelling in the prostate. I get an occational bout with heat and pressure but not much any more. I’ll keep you all updated with the latest. Jack Settles.