Re: Medical News: Dietary Supplement Tied to Metastatic Prostate Cancer

January 16, 2008

Bill, thank you for that reference.

Any one who thinks that hormonal supplementation for

men in the form of testosterone or its precursors is

safe and benign should read the article.

Ralph Giarnella MD

Southington Ct USA

--- Black wrote:

> Folks:

> Interesting and potentially cautionary item.

> Best,

> Bill Black

> Cumberland Foreside, Maine

>

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/AlternativeMedicine/dh/7960<http://www.m\

edpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/AlternativeMedicine/dh/7960>

>

January 17, 2008

Dr. Giarnella would DHEA be a similar product? I don't take it but I know a lot

of people who do take DHEA.

Thanks,

Rex Icard

Albany, Georgia USA

Ralph Giarnella wrote:

Bill, thank you for that reference.

Any one who thinks that hormonal supplementation for

men in the form of testosterone or its precursors is

safe and benign should read the article.

Ralph Giarnella MD

Southington Ct USA

--- Black wrote:

> Folks:

> Interesting and potentially cautionary item.

> Best,

> Bill Black

> Cumberland Foreside, Maine

>

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/AlternativeMedicine/dh/7960<http://www.m\

edpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/AlternativeMedicine/dh/7960>

>

January 17, 2008

If DHEA causes a rise in testosterone then the answer

is yes. Over the years I have reviewed numerous

scientific articles concerning DHEA and there is

conflicting evidence whether DHEA actually makes a

difference in testosterone levels at any age.

There has been some evidence that it is beneficial for

women and perhaps the very old men.

Ralph Giarnella MD

Southington Ct USA

--- rex icard wrote:

> Dr. Giarnella would DHEA be a similar product? I

> don't take it but I know a lot of people who do take

> DHEA.

>

> Thanks,

> Rex Icard

> Albany, Georgia USA

>

> Ralph Giarnella wrote:

> Bill, thank you for that reference.

> Any one who thinks that hormonal supplementation for

> men in the form of testosterone or its precursors is

> safe and benign should read the article.

>

> Ralph Giarnella MD

> Southington Ct USA

>

> --- Black wrote:

>

> > Folks:

> > Interesting and potentially cautionary item.

> > Best,

> > Bill Black

> > Cumberland Foreside, Maine

> >

>

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/AlternativeMedicine/dh/7960<http://www.m\

edpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/AlternativeMedicine/dh/7960>

> >

>

January 17, 2008

If there's a risk of prostrate cancer from DHEA, in all likelihood

it's not from metabolism to testosterone but instead the far more

likely metabolism to estradiol. Either one, however, is less likely

than other outcomes.

Ken O'Neill

Austin, Texas

> >

> > > Folks:

> > > Interesting and potentially cautionary item.

> > > Best,

> > > Bill Black

> > > Cumberland Foreside, Maine

> > >

> >

>

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/AlternativeMedicine/dh/7960<http://www.m\

edpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/AlternativeMedicine/dh/7960>

> > >

> >

>

January 17, 2008

How utterly amazing: combining test with estradiol finds relationship

to several incidents of prostate cancer?

My physician places far greater emphasis on estradiol levels than PSAs

with respect to men and women - in terms of danger of prostate or

breast cancer onset. He recommends use of probiotics to provide

protection against estradiol reuptake. One study he mentions

demonstrates considerable increase in breast cancer incidents among

women on antibiotics for three months or longer due to compromised

probiotics resulting in heightened concentrations of estradiol due to

reuptake.

I use testosterone therapeutically. It is compounded with an aromatase

inhibitor to prevent conversion of testosterone to estradiol. Why on

earth someone would use a combination of test with estradiol confounds

imagination.

best regards,

Ken O'Neill

Austin, Texas

>

> > Folks:

> > Interesting and potentially cautionary item.

> > Best,

> > Bill Black

> > Cumberland Foreside, Maine

> >

>

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/AlternativeMedicine/dh/7960<http://www.m\

edpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/AlternativeMedicine/dh/7960>

> >

>

January 18, 2008

Thank you Dr. Giarnella.

Rex Icard

Albany, Georgia USA

==========================================

Ralph Giarnella wrote:

If DHEA causes a rise in testosterone then the answer

is yes. Over the years I have reviewed numerous

scientific articles concerning DHEA and there is

conflicting evidence whether DHEA actually makes a

difference in testosterone levels at any age.

There has been some evidence that it is beneficial for

women and perhaps the very old men.

Ralph Giarnella MD

Southington Ct USA

--- rex icard wrote:

> Dr. Giarnella would DHEA be a similar product? I

> don't take it but I know a lot of people who do take

> DHEA.

>

> Thanks,

> Rex Icard

> Albany, Georgia USA

>

> Ralph Giarnella wrote:

> Bill, thank you for that reference.

> Any one who thinks that hormonal supplementation for

> men in the form of testosterone or its precursors is

> safe and benign should read the article.

>

> Ralph Giarnella MD

> Southington Ct USA

>

> --- Black wrote:

>

> > Folks:

> > Interesting and potentially cautionary item.

> > Best,

> > Bill Black

> > Cumberland Foreside, Maine

> >

>

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/AlternativeMedicine/dh/7960<http://www.m\

edpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/AlternativeMedicine/dh/7960>

> >

>

January 18, 2008

Ken,

I think you assume too much if you consider that prostate cancer is

primarily caused or promoted by estradiol or estrogens in general.

Dr Ralph will know more, but I don't think there is any doubt that

androgen as testosterone or dihydrotestosterone (or other) is a

powerful promoter of prostate cancer. That's why androgen depletion

therapy is used therapeutically.

The role of estrogens in prostate cancer is still being investigated

and, as I understand it, they probably play a role that is not yet

fully understood.

It may help to be clear that in carcinogenesis there are usually

initiation and promotion stages and factors. That is, an agent causes

the initial abnormal cell growth, eg a mutation, and other agent(s),

or perhaps even the same agent, then promote the cancer growth and

the metastases.

It has been suggested that estrogens may initiate prostate cancer --

and so may other lifestyle and environmental factors. Yet that does

not diminish the importance of androgens in promotion, ie, making

that cancer grow. This is what seems to have occured in the cases

reported. Many ageing men have a latent, initiated prostate cancer

that is very slow growing -- unless you stimulate it with something.

One figure I have seen is 30% of men over 50 (NEJM, Wolf, 1995).

I would be watching that PSA of yours like a hawk if you are taking

TS.

Gympie, Australia

> >

> > > Folks:

> > > Interesting and potentially cautionary item.

> > > Best,

> > > Bill Black

> > > Cumberland Foreside, Maine

> > >

> >

>

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/AlternativeMedicine/dh/7960<ht

tp://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/AlternativeMedicine/dh/7960>

> > >

> >

>

January 19, 2008

--- wrote:

> Ken,

>

> I think you assume too much if you consider that

> prostate cancer is

> primarily caused or promoted by estradiol or

> estrogens in general.

>

> Dr Ralph will know more, but I don't think there is

> any doubt that

> androgen as testosterone or dihydrotestosterone (or

> other) is a

> powerful promoter of prostate cancer. That's why

> androgen depletion

> therapy is used therapeutically.

>

> The role of estrogens in prostate cancer is still

> being investigated

> and, as I understand it, they probably play a role

> that is not yet

> fully understood.

Before I try to answer this post it is important that

I issue a disclaimer.

I am and Internist and Gastroenterologist. I am not a

Urologist or Oncologist. I do not treat Prostate

cancer and by no means do I know enough about prostate

cancer to discuss it.

Having said that I went to an Oncology Textbook

(cancer treatment textbook) and read the Chapter on

Prostate Cancer.

<<Abeloff: Clinical Oncology, 3rd ed.

Elsevier

Chapter 87 Prostate Cancer>>

Below are what I think are relevant excerpts for this

discussion. All texts enclosed by << ...>> are from

the above textbook.

First of all the chilling facts of the incidence of

prostate cancer in apparently healthy mean.

<<INTRODUCTION

One challenge for prostate cancer screening is the

prevalence of the disease in the United States:

Autopsy series have revealed small prostate cancers in

as many as 29% of men between ages 30 and 40 years and

64% of men between ages 60 and 70 years.[4]>>

These are not men who died from prostate cancer,

rather they are prostate cancer which were found

incidentally. This not new information, since I was

taught this in Medical School 40 years ago.

Nowhere in the chapter is there reference to estrogens

or estradiol with regards to increasing the risk for

prostate cancer. On the contrary in some situations

Estrogen is used to treat prostate cancer.

Along with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, androgen

and testosterone suppression is a very important mode

of treatment especially in the very early states of

prostate cancer.

<<<Metastatic prostate cancer is almost always treated

with androgen deprivation, antiandrogens, or a

combination of androgen deprivation and

antiandrogens.[193][194][195] However, despite such

treatment, androgen-independent prostate cancer cells

eventually emerge and progress to threaten life.>>>

<<<

THE TREATMENT OF LOCALIZED PROSTATE CANCER

Androgen-deprivation therapy has been used with

prostate cancer brachytherapy both to reduce the size

of the prostate gland and to improve outcomes. Most

prostate glands exhibit some decrease in volume after

3 months of androgen-deprivation therapy, with an

average 30% to 40% reduction, and little further

volume decreases.[513] About 10% of prostate glands

will show no volume reduction at all in response to

androgen deprivation.>>>>

<<<Endocrine Approaches to Prostate Cancer Treatment

The dependence of prostate cancer cells on androgens

for growth and differentiation has been has been well

recognized for at least five decades.[572]

Testosterone, produced by Leydig cells in the testes

on stimulation by LH, is converted to DHT by the

action of 5 & #945;-reductase.[12]

DHT, a more potent androgen than testosterone, binds

to intracellular androgen receptors to activate the

expression of target genes.[13][14]

Androgen-deprivation therapy for prostate cancer

involves maneuvers that reduce circulating

testosterone to levels around or below levels present

in castrated men (<50 ng/mL).

Forced reduction of testosterone levels by castration,

or via gonadal suppression, triggers a wave of

apoptosis in both normal and neoplastic prostate

cells, with few or no immediate effects on

non-androgen target tissues, providing one of the most

effective systemic palliative treatments known for

solid organ cancers.

Unfortunately, despite the magnitude of the initial

beneficial treatment response, prostate cancer

inexorably evolves to androgen independence.[24] No

therapeutic maneuver has been shown to prevent this

sequence of progression>>>

It appears that estrogen therapy is just as effective

as orchiectomy (removal of the testicles) however

there are some undesirable side effects.

<<<Strategies for Androgen Deprivation

Currently, a general consensus holds that a reduction

in testosterone produced by the testes represents the

best standard approach to androgen-deprivation therapy

for prostate cancer.

This can be accomplished by surgical removal of the

testis (bilateral orchiectomy), by inhibition of the

synthesis and release of pituitary gonadotropins by

gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone analogs (GnRH

or LHRH analogs and LHRH antagonists), or by the

administration of pharmacologic doses of estrogens

The administration of pharmacologic doses of synthetic

estrogens represented the earliest strategy for drug

treatment of prostate cancer.[577]

Initial studies using diethylstilbestrol (DES)

revealed a dose-dependent suppression of serum

testosterone to the castrate range.

When used for prostate cancer progression, DES

provided clinical benefits comparable to those

achieved with bilateral orchiectomy.

In a clinical trial conducted by the Veterans

Administration ative Urological Research Group

(VACURG Study 1), men with prostate cancer treated

with DES had a prostate cancer-specific survival

comparable to that of men treated with bilateral

orchiectomy>>>

It is important to understand that even though you

presently may have a normal PSA, this does not

guarantee that you do not have a dormant or relatively

inactive prostate cancer. As noted above as many as

29% of men between the age of 30-40 were found to have

small prostate cancers at autopsies and as many as 64%

of men age 60-70 were found to have prostate cancer.

Over the years I have been personally interested in

testosterone supplement for myself. I have discussed

this with Endocrinologists and Urologists. The high

probability that at my age (67) there is a relatively

inactive prostate cancer which could be stimulated by

the use of testosterone has dissuaded me from trying

supplements even though I might be able to legally

justify their use.

In my opinion the benefit is not outweighed by the

risk. At present there is no way of knowing, other

than by autopsy or possibly prostate needle biopsy who

has a slow growing prostate cancer. PSA is only

beneficial when the cancer begins to speed up its

growth.

If you have any concerns about the safety of

Testosterone supplementation you should consult a

Urologist or Oncologist who treats this cancer.

At age 60+ using testosterone supplementation is, in

my opinion, like playing Russian Roulette with with a

six shooter loaded with 4 bullets. Not great odds.

Ralph Giarnella MD

Southington Ct USA

> It may help to be clear that in carcinogenesis there

> are usually

> initiation and promotion stages and factors. That

> is, an agent causes

> the initial abnormal cell growth, eg a mutation, and

> other agent(s),

> or perhaps even the same agent, then promote the

> cancer growth and

> the metastases.

>

> It has been suggested that estrogens may initiate

> prostate cancer --

> and so may other lifestyle and environmental

> factors. Yet that does

> not diminish the importance of androgens in

> promotion, ie, making

> that cancer grow. This is what seems to have occured

> in the cases

> reported. Many ageing men have a latent, initiated

> prostate cancer

> that is very slow growing -- unless you stimulate it

> with something.

> One figure I have seen is 30% of men over 50 (NEJM,

> Wolf, 1995).

>

> I would be watching that PSA of yours like a hawk if

> you are taking

> TS.

>

> Gympie, Australia

>

> > >

> > > > Folks:

> > > > Interesting and potentially cautionary item.

> > > > Best,

> > > > Bill Black

> > > > Cumberland Foreside, Maine

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/AlternativeMedicine/dh/7960<ht

>

tp://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/AlternativeMedicine/dh/7960>

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

January 19, 2008

--- Casler wrote:

> Casler writes:

>

> Hi Ralph,

>

> I too claim no " insight " into the DIRECT hormonal

> relationship between

> Prostate problems, and Testosterone, but wonder at

> the evidence, or the

> interpretation of it.

>

> If the aromatized DHT was " THE " culprit, it seems

> strange that it occurs at

> a time in one's life where the levels are the

> lowest, compared to the ages

> of say 18 when they are the highest.

>

> It would seem then, that it is likely a more complex

> inter-relationship of

> sensitivities, balances, exposures, genetic markers

> or keys, and such.

>

> While it cannot be denied that DHT is an anabolic

> enabler to what might seem

> a " more " sensitive cellular proliferation of cancer

> cells, it might not be

> " THE " cause. Much like gasoline certainly will make

> a fire flare up, but it

> may not be the cause of the fire.

>

> I would assume that at some point in the exploration

> to understand diabetes,

> that some thought it was generally caused by too

> little insulin, which we

> now know is not always the case.

>

> As we also know, the relationship, profile, and

> production of the endogenous

> hormones changes as we age. Many are exploring that

> " relationship " as well

> as the related elements like cellular sensitivities

> to various hormonal

> levels. Much evidence for many diseases of aging

> seem to stem from the

> various reactive adjustments to these variations,

> and the inflammation that

> seems to accompany them.

>

> Any thoughts?

>

> Regards,

>

> Casler

> TRI-VECTOR 3-D Force Systems

> Century City, CA

>

I don't think that any one is saying that testosterone

or DHT are the causes of prostate cancer but rather

their presence sort of feeds the fire.

In women their are types of breast cancer which are

very hormone sensitive. That is one of the reasons for

caution when using HRT in menopause.

We know that when prostate cancer occurs in younger

men (40+) it is significantly more aggressive than

when it occurs in older men (60+). In older men

prostate cancer is definitely slower growing and in

many cases the treatment of choice is to watch and

wait and do nothing since the prostate cancer is not

likely to cause problems.

The risk for older men taking testosterone supplements

is that they may turn what would otherwise be an

indolent cancer into an aggressive cancer.

You are correct in your statement that the issue is

very complex as to cause and effect, prevention etc.

I tried to summarize the highlights of a very

detailed and long chapter on prostate cancer in which

hormone was just one aspect of the discussion. I

highlighted what I thought was germane to the present

discussion.

Ralph Giarnella MD

Southington Ct USA

January 19, 2008

While I am neither an MD nor a cancer specialist, I do have

considerable experience in assessing occupational and environmental

carcinogens from previous work in occupational and environmental

health.

What initiates prostate cancer is not known conclusively. However,

here is what the summary of the World Cancer Research Fund report has

to say about causes of prostate cancer, bearing in mind that this

review concentrates on nutrition, physical activity and lifestyle

factors. I posted a link to this report previously.

*********************************

" The Panel judges as follows:

Foods containing lycopene, as well as selenium or foods containing

it, probably protect against prostate cancer.

Foods containing calcium are a probable cause of this cancer. It is

unlikely that beta-carotene (whether from foods or supplements) has a

substantial effect on the risk of this cancer.

There is limited evidence suggesting that pulses (legumes) including

soya and soya products, foods containing vitamin E, and alpha-

tocopherol supplements are protective; and that processed meat, and

milk and dairy products are a cause of this cancer.

In final summary, the strongest evidence, corresponding to judgements

of " convincing " and " probable " , shows that foods containing lycopene,

as well as selenium or foods containing it, probably protect against

prostate cancer, and that foods containing calcium are a probable

cause of this cancer. It is unlikely that beta-carotene (whether from

foods or supplements) has a substantial effect on the risk of this

cancer. "

************************************

They also note that: " There are no other established causes of

prostate cancer. "

The careful assessments of this very large team of elite cancer

specialists and scientists has produced a state of the art report on

current knowledge of cancer causes and preventative factors in

nutrition and physical activity.

Now here comes the interesting bit. Here is what they say about

testosterone (TS):

" Growth factors, particularly IGF, as well as androgens have also

been implicated in the development of prostate cancers.

Serum levels of IGF-1 can be associated with prostate cancer

independently of PSA levels. High levels of testosterone promote cell

differentiation, which could protect against the development of this

cancer. Therefore, declining levels of this hormone in older age may

contribute to the development of this cancer. "

The key to understanding this paradox -- if androgens are also

clearly promoters -- is that when men are young, high TS levels

probably protect cells from mutation in prostate gland. However, when

a cancer has been initiated, say, by any of the above factors, TS

then becomes a good promoter of *cancer cell* differentiation. The

less TS you have in old age, the slower the growth of a slow-growing

cancer.

Which is not to say that you can't have your cake and eat it too by

watching diet and nutrition and hoping you don't have cancer in the

first place, in which case TS may be protective. Got it? Except you

can't know without invasive tests. PSA is not entirely reliable.

BTW, why caclium seems to be implicated in prostate cancer may be

related to an imbalance of calcium intake and vitamin D3. This is

discussed in the report. Vitamin D3 status seems to be protective of

prostate cancer and too much calcium inhibits vitamin D3 formation.

Estrogens do not get a mention in the report in relation to prostate.

Oh well, back to the Brazil nuts and tomatoes.

Gympie, Australia

>

> Before I try to answer this post it is important that

> I issue a disclaimer.

> I am and Internist and Gastroenterologist. I am not a

> Urologist or Oncologist. I do not treat Prostate

> cancer and by no means do I know enough about prostate

> cancer to discuss it.

>

> Having said that I went to an Oncology Textbook

> (cancer treatment textbook) and read the Chapter on

> Prostate Cancer.

>

> <<Abeloff: Clinical Oncology, 3rd ed.

> Elsevier

> Chapter 87 Prostate Cancer>>

>

> Below are what I think are relevant excerpts for this

> discussion. All texts enclosed by << ...>> are from

> the above textbook.

>

> First of all the chilling facts of the incidence of

> prostate cancer in apparently healthy mean.

>

> <<INTRODUCTION

> One challenge for prostate cancer screening is the

> prevalence of the disease in the United States:

> Autopsy series have revealed small prostate cancers in

> as many as 29% of men between ages 30 and 40 years and

> 64% of men between ages 60 and 70 years.[4]

>

> These are not men who died from prostate cancer,

> rather they are prostate cancer which were found

> incidentally. This not new information, since I was

> taught this in Medical School 40 years ago.

>

> Nowhere in the chapter is there reference to estrogens

> or estradiol with regards to increasing the risk for

> prostate cancer. On the contrary in some situations

> Estrogen is used to treat prostate cancer.

>

> Casler writes:

>

> Hi Ralph,

>

> I too claim no " insight " into the DIRECT hormonal relationship

between

> Prostate problems, and Testosterone, but wonder at the evidence, or

the

> interpretation of it.

>

> If the aromatized DHT was " THE " culprit, it seems strange that it

occurs at

> a time in one's life where the levels are the lowest, compared to

the ages

> of say 18 when they are the highest.

>

> It would seem then, that it is likely a more complex inter-

relationship of

> sensitivities, balances, exposures, genetic markers or keys, and

such.

>

> While it cannot be denied that DHT is an anabolic enabler to what

might seem

> a " more " sensitive cellular proliferation of cancer cells, it might

not be

> " THE " cause. Much like gasoline certainly will make a fire flare

up, but it

> may not be the cause of the fire.

>

> I would assume that at some point in the exploration to understand

diabetes,

> that some thought it was generally caused by too little insulin,

which we

> now know is not always the case.

>

> As we also know, the relationship, profile, and production of the

endogenous

> hormones changes as we age. Many are exploring that " relationship "

as well

> as the related elements like cellular sensitivities to various

hormonal

> levels. Much evidence for many diseases of aging seem to stem from

the

> various reactive adjustments to these variations, and the

inflammation that

> seems to accompany them.

>

> Any thoughts?

>

> Regards,

>

> Casler

> TRI-VECTOR 3-D Force Systems

> Century City, CA

>

January 20, 2008

> wrote:

>

> > Ken,

> >

> > I think you assume too much if you consider that

> > prostate cancer is

> > primarily caused or promoted by estradiol or

> > estrogens in general.

>

So-called scientific reporting must always viewed with respect to the

context in which it is written. For example, creationalists writing on

evolution do so with a decided bias. In line with Max Planck's

observation that science advances due to the deaths of older

scientists, here's a short piece by Dr HingHua Tsang reporting on the

late Dr Lee's take on estrodiol and the complex endocrinological

changes associated with aging; omitted is any reference to the

debilitating effects of hidden soy products in the diet, an outcome of

Eastman Kodak bribing Congressmen to remove soy from the toxic foods

list in the mid 1950s.

" Just as in women, men suffer the effects of " estrogen dominance " .

" Many researchers including R. Lee, M.D (Leading pioneer in

natural progesterone therapy), Dr. Hanley and Dr. Eckhart

are coming to the conclusion that the over abundance of estrogen and

estrogen like substances (xenoestrogens or foreign estrogens) are

responsible for a vast number of today's health problems. This over

abundance of estrogen is referred to as estrogen dominance which is an

increasingly serious problem for both women and men. Dr. Lee believes

that it is excessive exposure to estrogen that is the primary cause of

prostate enlargement and prostate cancer. Xenoestrogens in the

environment are among the culprits. Sources of xenoestrogens includes

commercially raised beef, chicken and pork, birth control pills,

spermacide, detergent, plastics, plastic drinking bottles, pesticides,

herbicides, personal care products, canned foods and lacquers.

" Men produce estrogen (Estradiol) but in much lower amount than women.

Men also produce progesterone, but about half the amount from that of

females. Progesterone is made in men by the adrenal glands and testes.

Progesterone is vital to good health in both women and men. It is the

primary precursor of our adrenal cortical hormones and testosterone.

The male hormone, testosterone, is an antagonist to estradiol (E2). It

is made from progesterone. Men normally continue to produce relatively

normal level of testosterone for their age and well into the

seventies. Contrary to common perception, testosterone does not cause

prostate cancer. Young men have high levels of testosterone and old

men low levels. If testosterone were the cause of prostate cancer,

young men would be dying of prostate cancer. Studies had shown that

men with the highest level of testosterone have the least prostate

enlargement. Conversely, men with the highest level of estrogen have

enlarged prostates. Declining testosterone from aging, together with

increasing level of estrogen, is the most likely reason for prostate

enlargement and cancer in men.

" The prostate is embryologically the same as the uterus in the female.

Research Studies (Listed at the end of this newsletter) have shown

that when prostate cells are exposed to estrogen, the cells

proliferate and become cancerous. When progesterone or testosterone

was added, cancer cell dies. During the aging process, progesterone

level falls in men, especially after age 60. Progesterone is the chief

inhibitor of an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase that is responsible

for converting testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a much more

potent derivative that is linked to prostate cancer. When the level of

progesterone falls in men, the amount of conversion from testosterone

to DHT increases. Unfortunately, DHT is not as powerful an inhibitor

of cancer cell compared to testosterone. When the level of

testosterone decreases, the relative level of estradiol in men

increases. Estradiol, turns on BCL2 oncogene (Onco means cancer) and

increases the risk of prostate cancer if adequate amount of

progesterone is not there to counteract its effect by stimulating the

P53 cancer protection gene.

" Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a prostate enlargement condition,

is a common condition affecting the majority of male above age 50.

Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer in men. It is slow

growing, with a doubling time of 5 years. Numerous anecdotal reports

of reduction of BPH and reversal of prostate cancer through the use of

natural progesterone supplementation have been reported. "

Lee and others stand as an alternative view to that of medical

orthodoxy. It should be noted that our standard notion of prostate

cancer being associated with testosterone stem from work done in 1940

that would not be publishable today due to its anecdotal nature!

Caveat lector.

best

Ken O'Neill

Austin, Texas

January 20, 2008