Men's health issues...

Jamie Clark74 said:Since prostate cancer relies on hormones—specifically testosterone—we can actually slow down the progression of the disease and potentially see some immediate clinical improvements by blocking those hormonal effects.

In reality, prostate cancer is driven by DHT (dihydrotestosterone). To combat this, some doctors prescribe Proscar, which is 5 mg of finasteride; it works by inhibiting the 5-alpha reductase enzyme, effectively preventing testosterone from converting into DHT. Now, I find myself wondering about a bit of a personal conundrum... since I am currently taking Propecia for hair loss—which is just 1 mg of finasteride—it operates on essentially the same biological principle as Proscar, even if my dose is five times lower. Does this mean I might actually be lowering my own risk of developing prostate cancer? From what I understand, Propecia reduces DHT levels by about 70%.

Hopefully someone with actual expertise can weigh in here, Steven Green2!

From my own experience, my PSA stays under 4—usually hovering around 1.9 to 2.5.
I take 1ml of Sustanon 250 every two weeks for testosterone. I get blood work done every three months, see my urologist every six months, and go in for an annual prostate exam.

To keep those hormone markers in check, they need to stay below 8. I was previously on 100/ml, which seemed fine at first, but then my blood tests showed my levels had dropped to about 2, and I started feeling pretty weak. My doctor switched me to 250/ml every other week; I've been on that for a year now and feel great.

As for my prostate, my last scan (done because of some bladder infections) showed it at 19ml. For a 64-year-old, that's perfectly fine. A typical volume for a younger guy is around 12ml.

Casey Palmer5 said:Oh, please...

Wait, really!?
How on earth can someone be that clueless?

Bravo, Jamie Clark74! Honestly, shouldn't the media be dedicating much more coverage to men's health and actively encouraging guys who wouldn't normally think twice about it to actually go in for a checkup?

ah...
So, I’m 26 now, but I’ve been dealing with prostate issues for about three years already... even though nothing "serious" popped up on the diagnostic tests—just some minor inflammation without any actual enlargement—it's still causing me some pretty nasty problems. For instance, everyone knows that feeling when men don't ejaculate after sex, or after intense intimacy or just high arousal? That dull ache in the testicles that follows? Well, for me, that pain is absolutely brutal. And it isn't just my testicles, either; the whole pelvic and abdominal area hurts. It gets so bad I can barely walk normally because of the discomfort. To make matters worse, the doctors haven't been able to give me a straight answer as to why this is happening. I've actually seen four different urologists at this point, and they're all stumped.

Also, just as a side note, I had surgery for a varicocele back when I was 23...

Has anyone else gone through something similar?

So, I’ve been scrolling through these threads and I’m running into an issue down there... basically, I had sex with a young woman this past weekend, and ever since, the outer part of my foreskin and a bit around the tip has been incredibly itchy. I checked myself out, and there’s no swelling or redness to speak of—it just feels constantly ticklish and irritated. I’m wondering if it might be some kind of fungal infection or something else entirely? If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions, please let me know... I'm going crazy here. Maybe some Monistat cream would help?

Jamie Clark74 said:Ask any man what one of the first signs of breast cancer is in women, and
almost everyone will say a lump.

Now, ask a man how much he actually knows about the prostate.
Most men don't even know where it's located or how big it is, let alone knowing at what age you should start being careful, which tests to get, how often, or when to begin screening.

In America, a man dies from prostate cancer every three hours.
With a population of around 330 million,
that means 32 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every single day.
Back in 2000, there were 12,000 diagnoses and 2,700 deaths attributed to it.

Prostate cancer is typically very slow-growing, usually surfacing in middle age.
Most men aren't diagnosed until their late 50s or 60s, though it's most prevalent in those aged 70 or 80.
Often, those older gentlemen pass away from other causes before the prostate cancer even becomes the primary issue.

Prostate cancer causes just as many deaths as breast cancer... yet, screening for prostate cancer is 60% easier than getting a mammogram!

So why is it that only one in ten men actually gets tested?
One hurdle is the DRE (digital rectal exam). It’s a quick, simple procedure where the doctor uses a gloved finger to feel the prostate—which is roughly the size of a walnut—
to check its size, shape, and firmness.

That’s really it. In my experience, it isn't painful, just a little awkward. I've had my annual checkup since I was 48, and now I'm 62. It's just like a standard blood test, which also checks your PSA (prostate-specific antigen)—a level that rises if cancer is present.

Personally, I’d recommend every man over 45 get his blood work done and talk to his doctor about a screening. Pass the word along to your friends, too... especially if someone in your family has dealt with it.

It’s a small price to pay if it might save your life.

To be continued!

It’s an old post, I know, but I’m hoping the info still holds up.

I could really use some help here.

It’s been nine months now—nine whole months—of living with a urinary catheter. I’ve been stuck with it because of some ongoing issues with urinary retention caused by BPH.

I’m currently on a regimen involving Avodart (once a day) and Tanyz (once a day). On top of that, I've been sipping on some nettle root and horsetail tea, and I'm also taking those homeopathic Saw Palmetto capsules.

I was wondering if anyone here has actually gone through that specific treatment plan? Also, does anyone happen to know the real-world difference in how Avodart (dutasteride) compares to Proscar (finasteride) when it comes to actual results?

On a similar note, has anyone here actually had success sticking to long-term medical therapy instead of going under the knife? I’m curious about the timeline—how long did it realistically take to see a noticeable reduction in prostate size? Right now, mine is sitting at around 100cc, with a PSA of 3.2.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks. 🙏