Q: I’m confused about hormone replacement therapy for men. I see that you recommend testosterone replacement, but I’ve seen other sources that warn against it, saying that supplementing with testosterone can cause prostate cancer. What is the real story?
JVW: Testosterone doesn’t cause prostate cancer all by itself. If it did, there would be an epidemic of prostate cancer in young men. But it does significantly increase the growth rate of a pre-existing cancer that may not have been detected yet.
If your testosterone levels are low and you decide to take testosterone — real, bio-identical testosterone, not a patentable version — make sure to have your PSA level checked before you start, and then check it again in two to three months. If it rises more than a little in that time, you may have uncovered pre-existing prostate cancer. Check with your doctor or a urologist right away, and stop using testosterone until you’ve fully investigated the situation.
