What Is Unique About Receiving Hormone Therapy At Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers
At Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, your cancer care team will design a personalized cancer treatment plan that provides the ideal combination of therapies for the best possible outcome. Under our care, you will be monitored closely to determine if your hormone therapy is working. This involves regular PSA tests for prostate cancer treatment and regular checkups for breast cancer treatment.
Rest assured, you are in good hands with Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers. We believe in treating the whole person, not just the disease, which is why we will work hard to create the best cancer treatment plan for you.
What Happens If You Do Not Produce Enough Hgh
We all know that growing old brings with it a number of issues. The battery of symptoms that we think of as aging- loss of muscle mass, weight gain, weakness, increased fatigue, sleep disorders, bone loss, and loss of libido are collectively known to medical professionals as somatopause. Loss of HGH is a direct cause of somatopause.
However, growth hormone therapy can replace the HGH that your body loses over time, and prevent many of these problems, as well as improve overall health and wellbeing.
Growth hormone replacement therapy can:
- Rejuvenate and invigorate every cell in your body
- Help you burn fat and build lean muscle
- Improve your immune response
- Fight fatigue and give you more energy
- Keep your moods more stable
- Return you to more normal sleep patterns
- Improve sexual performance
What Makes Biote Therapy Unique
BioTE treatment is a bioidentical hormone replacement therapy process that assists men and women with age-related problems, such as stress, exhaustion, sleep issues, and other issues caused by hormone imbalances. BioTE hormone replacement therapy involves subcutaneous pellet insertions in your body to help you utilize the hormones your body requires.
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What Is The Function Of Growth Hormone Therapy
If it is growth hormone that provides the fuel for your body to run at peak efficiency, it only stands to reason that, once you remove that fuel, the engine slows and runs sluggishly. Do you ever look at kids running around on a playground? They seem to have boundless energy. That is because their HGH levels are very high. Have you watched kids play like that, and ever said to yourself, I wish somebody could bottle some of that energy? Somebody has, and we call it growth hormone therapy.
However, do not be deceived by ads in magazines or online that claim to sell you products that contain HGH. You can only get real human growth hormone through HGH replacement injections, and the only way to obtain such injections legally, is with a doctors prescription. If you see an ad for a supplement, or any product on a shelf that claims to contain HGH, and it can be obtained without a prescription, or taken in any way other than an injection, it is not, by law, authentic Human Growth Hormone.
You could get a prescription for HGH from any physician. But you want to work with a specialist who not only understands the many functions of HGH in the human body, but the intimate relationship it has with your other hormones. You want to work with a clinic whose doctors are skilled and experienced in bringing all of your hormones into the proper balance for peak performance at any age.
How Is Hormone Therapy Used To Treat Hormone
Hormone therapy may be used in several ways to treat hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, including:
Early-stage prostate cancer with an intermediate or high risk of recurrence. Men with early-stage prostate cancer that has an intermediate or high risk of recurrence often receive hormone therapy before, during, and/or after radiation therapy, or after prostatectomy . Factors that are used to determine the risk of prostate cancer recurrence include the grade of the tumor , the extent to which the tumor has spread into surrounding tissue, and whether tumor cells are found in nearby lymph nodes during surgery.
The use of hormone therapy before prostatectomy has not been shown to be of benefit and is not a standard treatment. More intensive androgen blockade prior to prostatectomy is being studied in clinical trials.
Relapsed/recurrent prostate cancer. Hormone therapy used alone is the standard treatment for men who have a prostate cancer recurrence as documented by CT, MRI, or bone scan after treatment with radiation therapy or prostatectomy.
Hormone therapy is sometimes recommended for men who have a “biochemical” recurrencea rise in prostate-specific antigen level following primary local treatment with surgery or radiationespecially if the PSA level doubles in fewer than 3 months.
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The Effects Of Menopause On The Body
Estrogen and progesterone are the primary female hormones related to reproduction. When ovarian function declines with age, ovulation doesnt occur regularly. This leads to irregular or missed periods.
Eventually, the ovaries stop ovulating altogether, and periods stop completely. This results in lower levels of estrogen and progesterone production by your ovaries.
Youve officially entered menopause when you have 12 missed periods in a row. This natural life stage typically starts around your mid-40s to mid-50s and can last for several years.
While menopause means you wont have any more periods and can no longer get pregnant, the decrease in estrogen also has several other effects on the body.
While your period may have been changing over the last several years during perimenopause, you dont technically hit menopause until your monthly period has stopped completely. This means your body stops producing eggs for fertilization.
Without the shedding of an unfertilized egg every month, theres no more menstruation.
Menopause can also affect other parts of the reproductive system. When youre no longer going through monthly cycles, you may not have any thickening of cervical mucus toward the middle of your cycle, a symptom that often signifies ovulation.
Overall vaginal dryness and a lack of libido can also occur with menopause, but these dont have to be permanent. An over-the-counter lubricant can help.
Risk Of Other Health Problems
Evidence suggests that having hormone therapy might increase the chance of developing heart disease, stroke and type-2 diabetes. There is also some research that suggests having hormone therapy can increase your risk of getting blood clots and anaemia. But more research is needed to help us understand the links between these conditions.
Research shows that hormone therapy can cause:
- an increase in weight, particularly around the waist
- an increase in cholesterol levels
- changes in insulin.
Talk to your hospital doctor and GP about how often you should have general health checks. You may be weighed and have your blood pressure checked regularly. You may also have blood tests to check for diabetes and to measure your cholesterol levels. Your GP may suggest you have these checks about every six months. Or you can ask for them yourself at your GP surgery.
If you already have heart problems or diabetes, talk to your doctor before you start hormone therapy. They will work with you to manage these conditions.
While the risk of getting these conditions may be worrying, its important to remember that hormone therapy helps men to live longer by controlling the cancer.
What can help?
A healthy lifestyle can help reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke and type-2 diabetes. This includes:
- eating a healthy diet
Read more about diet and physical activity.
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What Types Of Hormone Therapy Are Used For Prostate Cancer
Hormone therapy for prostate cancer can block the production or use of androgens . Currently available treatments can do so in several ways:
- reducing androgen production by the testicles
- blocking the action of androgens throughout the body
- block androgen production throughout the body
Treatments that reduce androgen production by the testicles are the most commonly used hormone therapies for prostate cancer and the first type of hormone therapy that most men with prostate cancer receive. This form of hormone therapy includes:
Treatments that block the action of androgens in the body are typically used when ADT stops working. Such treatments include:
Treatments that block the production of androgens throughout the body include:
Problems Getting An Erection
Hormone therapy lowers the amount of testosterone in the body and this affects your ability to have and maintain an erection. This may get better within 3 to 12 months after the treatment ends.
For some men, erection problems are permanent. It depends on the drug you are having and how long you have been taking it.
Your doctor or clinical nurse specialist will be able to offer you advice.
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What Does Growth Hormone Do
So how exactly does growth hormone make you grow? In terms of biological function, HGH triggers protein synthesis and stimulates lipolysis, or the metabolization of fat into energy. If you think of growing as a construction crew erecting a new building, basically those are the main ingredients needed for tissue growth protein to provide the raw materials, or the building blocks, and energy to provide the labor.
The exact mechanism of action of growth hormone is not 100% understood, however, we do know that it does not act directly on the tissue it is telling to grow. Rather, it stimulates the liver and other organs to produce and release another hormone known as insulin-like growth factor 1, or IGF-1. IGF-1, and similar compounds, are the chemical messengers that actually cause cells to grow. Much like growth hormone itself, once you have reached puberty, your levels of IGF-1 significantly decrease. This is the built in mechanism that stops you from growing once you have reached your genetically predisposed full height. However, as HGH and IGF-1 levels continue to drop the older you get, you can start to feel the effect in the drop off of strength and energy, typical of growing old.
Where Is Hgh Produced
Growth hormone is primarily produced and secreted by one the most important glands of your endocrine system, the pituitary gland. The pituitary does not produce and release growth hormone continuously. Rather it is released in bursts throughout the day, usually every 3 to 5 hours. This is why when you are tested for a possible growth hormone deficiency, doctors cannot merely take a sample of your blood and see if you have enough, because you could be between bursts of HGH. Instead, to test for a growth hormone deficiency, doctors do what is called a growth hormone stimulation test. In this kind of test, the pituitary gland is induced to release a pulse of HGH, and then your blood is tested, to see if the gland released the right amount of growth hormone for your size, weight and age.
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How To Balance Hormones Naturally
1. Swap Carbs for Healthy Fats
Foods that balance hormones include a variety of fat-containing foods that provide short, medium and long-chain fatty acids. Your body needs various types of fats to create hormones, including saturated fat and cholesterol.
Not only are these essential fats fundamental building blocks for hormone production, but they keep inflammation levels low, boost your metabolism and promote weight loss.
Healthy fats have the opposite effect of refined carbohydrates, which lead to inflammation and can mess with the balance of your hormones.
My four favorite sources of anti-inflammatory, healthy fats include:
- coconut oil, avocados, grass-fed butter and wild-caught salmon.
- Coconut oil uses are plentiful for example, coconut oil has natural anti-bacterial and fat-burning effects.
- Avocado benefits include improving heart health, lowering inflammation, controlling your appetite and contributing to your daily intake of fiber and nutrients such as potassium.
- Salmon nutrition is also impressive: its one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to lower inflammation and help with cognitive functions. Omega-3 fatty acids are a large component of brain-cell membranes and are important for cell-to-cell communication in the brain. Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids help protect against hippocampal neuronal loss and reduce pro-inflammatory responses.
2. Supplement to Fill Nutritional Voids
3. Address Emotional Imbalances
6. Get More Sleep
Preparation Before Taking Hormones
Before starting estrogen hormone therapy, it is important to gain as much information as possible. So always discuss the risks and side effects that hormone therapy may cause with a healthcare professional.
It is also essential that a person manages their expectations of when they will begin to see changes. Some people can take hormones for over a year before seeing any noticeable changes.
A persons healthcare provider may ask people to
The cost of estrogen hormone therapy can vary according to a range of factors. These include the type of hormones a person takes and how they use them.
A person wanting to transition must check that their health insurance covers the costs.
People must also check that the healthcare professional or medical center that their doctor has referred them to are in their insurance network.
There are several other gender-affirming procedures that people can opt for.
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What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Hormone Therapy
What may be important to one person might be less important to someone else. So speak to your doctor or nurse about your own situation.
Advantages
- Its an effective way to control prostate cancer, even if it has spread to other parts of your body.
- It can be used alongside other treatments to make them more effective.
- It can help to reduce some of the symptoms of advanced prostate cancer, such as urinary symptoms and bone pain.
Disadvantages
- It can cause side effects that might have a big impact on your daily life.
- It cant cure your cancer when its used by itself, but it can help to keep the cancer under control, sometimes for many years.
Female To Male Transitioning Hormone Therapy Or Masculine Transition Hormone Therapy:
Hormones are chemical messengers that are produced by glands. Hormones are released into the bloodstream, where they direct the activities and development of other cells. The appearance and growth of body fat, breasts, hair, skin and reproductive organs are affected by the hormones.
In case of masculine transitioning hormone therapy, the testosterone levels are increased while the estrogen hormone levels are lowered in to a typical Male range. The testosterone hormones are administered by injection, skin patch or gel and also by pill. These hormones are medications that can be prescribed by general practitioners, gynecologists and endocrinologists. It must be mentioned that like other drugs, they can also cause side effects and must be taken with care.
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Hot Flushes And Sweating
Hot flushes and sweating can be troublesome. They may last for 2 to 30 minutes and you may have a few a month or more often. They are the same as the hot flushes women have when going through menopause.
Lowered testosterone levels cause hot flushes. They are most likely to happen when taking LHRH agonists, also called LH blockers , because these drugs cut testosterone production off altogether.
Getting overheated, drinking tea or coffee, and smoking can all make flushes worse.
They may gradually get better as you get used to the treatment. But, in some men the flushes keep on happening as long as you take the drug.
Talk to your doctor or clinical nurse specialist if you have problems coping with hot flushes and sweating. There are treatments that may help.
Sexual Effects Of Feminine Or Male To Female Transitioning Hormone Therapy
Erections, ejaculations, libido and fertility: There is often a noticeable change in the frequency of erections and there is a reduction in their duration and firmness. Since the quantity of semen reduces, there is a possibility of short term or long term infertility. You will begin to notice changes between 1 to 3 months.
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Effects Of Masculine Transitioning Hormone Therapy On The Reproductive System Of Transgender People
Genitals: Testosterone hormone affects the clitoris, which may become more sensitive and somewhat larger. The vagina may get dryer and more fragile. So, if you have vaginal sex, you need to consider adding extra lubricant. It must be noted that testosterone does not protect you from sexually transmitted infections like HIV or Hep-C. So, always consider using latex barriers like a condom.
Breasts: Testosterone will not make your breasts disappear. Although they may become less firm, as the body fat shifts to a more typically male pattern in female to male transitioning.
How To Find The Right Accountant
Whether you’re a first time entrepreneur or you’re unhappy with your current accountant, finding the right accountant for your small business is an important part of any business plan. But learning how to find the right one goes beyond a Google search.
When choosing the right accountant, especially for solopreneurs and early stage business owners, the right tax professional can provide thought out strategies to ensure personal and business fiscal matters are well taken care of. However, what attributes do you look when selecting an accountant?
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What Are The Side Effects Of Hormone Therapy For Prostate Cancer
Because androgens affect many other organs besides the prostate, ADT can have a wide range of side effects , including:
- loss of interest in sex
Studer UE, Whelan P, Albrecht W, et al. Immediate or deferred androgen deprivation for patients with prostate cancer not suitable for local treatment with curative intent: European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Trial 30891. Journal of Clinical Oncology 2006 24:18681876.
Zelefsky MJ, Eastham JA, Sartor AO. Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. In: Vincent T. DeVita J, Lawrence TS, Rosenberg SA, eds. DeVita, Hellman, and Rosenberg’s Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology, 9e. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 2011.
Smith MR, Saad F, Chowdhury S, et al. Apalutamide and overall survival in prostate cancer. European Urology 2021 79:150158.