Prostate Cancer

[Steph]

A valued member of Susan's "Sheila" alerted me to the fact that the Wiki was missing an article on this extremely important medical condition that all MtF TS are at risk of.

Personally I have not heard of the removal of the prostate as being possible as a part of SRS/GRS.  In our efforts to be who we are supposed to be we can often forget about this dangerous condition that can, and often cuts many lives short.  After all the prostate is the one great deceiver that will be with us for the rest of our lives and will short circuit any successful attempt at living stealth.

Having to attend the doctors office to have an annual rectal examination as part of prevention will reveal who and what we are and can bring back the realization of what we once were, there is no sane way to avoid it.  To this end an article on this topic is being created in the Wiki for the information of all those concerned.  While the article is still under a major edit, it is there for you all to read and digest.  Although it is still in raw form, I have to agree whole heartedly with Sheila's concern over this important issue.

The article can be found here:

Prostate Cancer

I urge you to read the article, and, on behalf of Susan's I would like to thank Sheila again for her suggestion.

Steph

[Steph]

HRT doesn't drastically reduce the risk, then?

As far as know it does not, but then there is not enough research, if any, on the effects of MtF HRT on prostrate cancer.

Steph

[Keira]

Since both estrogen and lower DHT level are used in the treatment of enlarged prostage and prostate cancer, It goes to say that our chance of getting prostate cancer is significantly lower than men. The younger HRT has been started, the lower the risk.

Still, there's nothing wrong about having it tested during regular checkups. If you started HRT at 40 and more, its probably the most prudent thing to do.

[Fer]

I was almost certain that the prostate gland was removed during gender reassignment.   not so?

[Nero]

I was almost certain that the prostate gland was removed during gender reassignment.   not so?

hmm I've never heard that. certainly no expert though. Any post-ops want to confirm this?

[cindianna_jones]

The prostate is wrapped around the urethra.  I'm not sure that it can be removed for this reason.  The answer concerning GRS is no, it is not removed.  It does offer help in achieving orgasm for the MTF's too ... just to verify the answer to the question.

Cindi

[Alexandria]

I saw this post this AM, and had the chance to ask my Endo this afternoon.  She says that being TS does not "guarantee" no prostate risk, but the chances are VERY low.  She tells me that she has never even read a case report of a post-op TS having prostate cancer.   Anyway, one doc's opinion, but I trust her...

[LynnER]

Most of the drugs we take as quote AA's are actualy drugs used to treat either prostrate enlargment or prostate cancer...  but there not totaly fool proof...  chances are you will never have an enlarged one... <a normal sized one is large for a TS person after HRT for any given period>  and the chances of prostate cancer caused by DHT are extreemly low...  but there are other forms of cancer that can attack just about everything...  Example my grandmother died of an extreemly rare form of lung cancer, causes unknown...   we have a cancer prone organ in our bodies, then yeah, you should be checked despite the lower risks...

[Melissa]

It does offer help in achieving orgasm for the MTF's too ... just to verify the answer to the question.

I have heard this to be the main reason why it is not removed.  In fact, I believe I have heard that it may not be possible to orgasm without this.  I've also heard that it actually shrinks on HRT, which can really reduce the chances of the cancer.  My grandpa (on the male side of the family) actually has this, although doctors give him a life expectancy on this that would put him well past 100.   I sure hope HRT does reduce the chances of getting it, since I certainly would not want to.

[Hazumu]

Having to attend the doctors office to have an annual rectal examination as part of prevention...

My understanding is that the prostate can be reached vaginally in the post-op MtFs, and can be checked by a trans-aware OB/GYN during the pelvic exam.

If this is true, there should be no need for the dreaded 'finger-wave' over-40 male-males must suffer through, we can have it done before or after the speculum part of the pelvic exam...

Karen

[Steph]

Just added this link to the Wiki article.  A short but interesting read.

International Journal of ->-bleeped-<- (IJT)

Steph

[BeverlyAnn]

The prostate is wrapped around the urethra.  I'm not sure that it can be removed for this reason.
Cindi

The prostate can be removed but the main reason it is normally not is due to the possibility of nerve damage leading to incontinence or lack of sexual response.

Beverly

[Lisbeth]

Among the reasons I started HRT was my borderline abnormal PSA numbers.  Although the diagnosis was listed as benign prostatic hyperplasia, it was growing very fast.  One of my reasons for starting then was that the normal treatment for protate cancer includes DES.  Given a choice between Estradiol in three months (first available appointment slot with my OB/GYN) vs. DES after a couple of years, the answer seemed obvious.  There has been vast improvement in the two years since then.