Testosterone as a treatment in men who have had prostate cancer, is it a viable option to improve men’s health?

This article reviews the use of testosterone treatment in men who have had prostate cancer.  Although not currently used as a treatment method, there is a small amount of evidence which shows that it does not increase the risk of prostate cancer recurrence or progression.

Testosterone is produced largely by the testes and in smaller concentrations by the adrenal glands.  Testosterone plays an important part in the development of male reproductive tissues.  In addition, it is essential for maintaining muscle mass, bone mass and growth of body hair. Testosterone belongs to a group of hormones called androgens.  A treatment method used for prostate cancer is androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).  ADT aims to lower androgens (including testosterone) using drugs or surgery to remove the testes. This type of treatment decreases prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels and is used to control the growth and spread of prostate cancers. Stopping ADT can result in a flare of testosterone levels which may lead to negative outcomes in patients with prostate cancer.  This is the reason why testosterone treatment is not advised for men who have been treated for prostate cancer. 

Testosterone however does have many health implications in men who have had their testes removed as part of prostate cancer treatment. It may improve energy, vitality, sexual desire, erectile function, body composition and bone mineral density. Results from one study showed that in men whose testes had been removed, testosterone treatment did not increase PSA levels or adversely affected prostate cancer development.  A second study showed that in men treated with radiation treatment for prostate cancer, testosterone treatment did not result in increased PSA levels or recurrence of the cancer.

Overall, this article stresses the importance of testosterone in men's health and quality of life. This article may provide some reassurance that testosterone treatment may be a viable option to counter the side-effects of ADT, such as erectile dysfunction.

It is important to note that so far there have been no controlled studies into the use of testosterone in men with a history of prostate cancer.