I Stopped Propecia After Reading About Breast Cancer Risks
HI, I have taken propecia for about 3 1/2 years. I recently stopped taking it which has been about 2 months because of fears of developing breast cancer. I had a form of gynecomastia which developed when I was around 12 years old. I had surgery to correct it 7 years ago. Also the only person in my family to get cancer has been my mother who had breast cancer 5 years ago. Now I was told by my doctor that propecia does not cause male breast cancer but I have read online that it might increase the risk.
The best medical advice is obtained from your medical doctor, not the Internet. This site isn’t a place for medical advice either. In general, Propecia can cause gynecomastia as a rare side effect… but it does not CAUSE breast cancer.
There have been reports of breast cancer in men who took Propecia, but the causality cannot be established and it is very, very rare by the reports I’ve read in the literature. So the lesson here is talk with your doctor and find the treatment option best for you.
Well if a friend of yours said it, it must be true! Your paranoia really knows no limits. The man has hundreds of published papers, inventions, and recognized as an innovator in the hair transplant industry, but I guess if your friend thinks he’s lying about having a cardiovascular fellowship 40+ years ago, what can be believed??? Seriously man, you need to get a new hobby.
I’m sure in your infinite wisdom, you realized that requirements do change over the years right? You should also consider that most cardiovascular programs were still being developed in that time. It’s as simple as spending 2 minutes on Google to find the history of these sorts of things. Some fellowships were 2 years back then……. which is the exact amount of years Dr Rassman lists on his CV. WOW!!! Sad, sad Jeremy.
This is just another pathetic attempt by this troll to discredit Dr Rassman.
I’m afraid Dr Rassman did spend the requisite amount of time in a cardiovascular fellowship. Of course Jeremy is the expert on all things medicine. As an educational point, Dr Rassman has an extraordinary medical training. After a surgical internship, he did a prestigious residency and fellowship at major academic centers. Oh, by the way….in addition to being board certified, he is a MEDICAL EXAMINER – which is a person who the specialty boards seem extraordinary enough to examine this finishing specialties during oral exams to determine if they can be board certified in the
Of course, Jeremy is an expert in all things medical. The next blog response will invoke a vast conspiracy between the FDA, drug companies, specialty boards, and aliens to explain all of this in a way that continues to disrespect Dr. R
As Dougie has mentioned, the finasteride breast cancer link is akin to the warning labels for sildenafil (Viagra) and NAION (A devastating retinal condition). There are rare cases (1 in million) that have been reported and the association has yet to be determined as a causal one vs a correlation. The FDA chooses to be conservative. Oh, yea – the same regukatory body you argue is in cahoots with drug companies to hide the finesteride permanent sexual dysfunction data.
The link Jefemy provides from Health Canada notes ” Most of the reports have been in association with the 5mg formulation. Â Based on the currently available evidence, it is not known with certainty whether finasteride can cause breast cancer, nor can this possibility be ruled out at this point in time.”
Jeremy, it is possible that finesteride is causing you difficulty in reading comprehension and analytical thinking. Please add this to the long list of complaints you are certain are caused by this drug in your extensive googling.
Very well said, Dougie. I am very glad that most people are now starting to see Jeremy for exactly what he is. As they say, give ’em enough rope. . . .
I’m sorry – I meant to say a friend of mine that has experiences with surgical medicine. The prerequisites have not changed. A general thoracic residency for 5 years is needed to gain entry into a cardiovascular fellowship which takes more than one calendar year to complete. The CV lists one calendar year not two from 1968 to 1969.
I meant to specify my friend is experienced in surgical medicine. It is possible that he completed the fellowship, but seems to be unlikely.
Jeremy
Your prior (and voluminous) emails stand on their own merit. Others can read them. Others have commented on your apparent anger and hostility directed toward Dr. R. My view you just are not as smart as you think you are. Lyn
Lyn – My anger is justified as I was misled into taking a dangerous drug by Dr. Rassman’s posts over the years and now suffer as a result. This does not compromise the validity of any of my statements ipso facto.
You have run out of responses and for whatever reason have resorted to trying to insult my intelligence. This is a sign of somebody who has given up. In no way are you in a position to judge my intelligence nor do you have any idea who intelligent I consider myself.
You have previously resorted to accusing me of suffering from analytical difficulties as a result of taking finasteride. Fortunately, in my case this has not been a problem. However, the connection is well established, and even conceded by Dr. Rassman, that finasteride can impair cognitive and mood stability via the inhibition of neurogenesis. This fact was entirely omitted in Merck’s prescribing literature, apparently not understood by Dr. Rassman (his own words), and very crucial to investigate given it has the potential to destroy even more livelihoods than it has in the past.
If you wish to continue discussion, please do some research on the connection between finasteride and neurosteroids rather then rely on empty ad hominem attacks. If not, then one can only conclude you have no interest in understanding the intricacies of the drug’s mechanism of action.
Jeremy-
You have said in the past that you aren’t Rassman’s patient. Daniel did say that you were never a patient of Dr Rassman and he did not prescribe it to you …. so when you say “Literally nothing you said in that post was true” you’re trying to deceive us right?
You have proven yourself to me to not necessarily be the best intentioned commenter. A friend of mine pointed out that you give the impression that you’re a liar. Take from this what you will, but I believe that this proves everything you’ve ever written should be heavily scrutinized and is likely complete BS.