EllingFamily:TogetherWeThrive

Due to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease in testicular cancer survivors, I have taken a particular interest in my cholesterol levels over the past two years. After getting my cholesterol checked in March of 2005, one year after my cancer diagnosis, I had a total cholesterol level of 285.

My HDL levels (aka. the good cholesterol) were extremely low and my bad cholesterol was extremely high giving me an overall risk factor of 7, the accepted level should be below 4. After talking with my doctor, he and I both agreed that we needed to be aggressive in treating my cholesterol level. I asked if I could lower my cholesterol by diet and exercise and I was informed that my cholesterol levels were more indicative of heredity than lifestyle (both parents have high cholesterol) and the only way to control my levels would be through medication.

Since my HDL levels were so low, my doctor suggested that I try the statin drug Crestor. The reason we chose Crestor was because in addition to lowering LDL cholesterol it is also has shown a tend to slightly raise HDL in some patients. Cholesterol is produced basically by two areas in your body muscles and liver. Crestor works by slowing down your liver's production of cholesterol forcing your body to use the cholesterol produced by your muscles, thus, lowering your overall cholesterol levels in your body. I take Crestor once a day just before bed because it works best at night when your liver and body are at rest.

Unlike the Crestor commercials where they say you can lower your levels up to 52%, my levels after a month of taking the medication were lowered by 54% to a total level of 134. To say the least I was ecstatic! Doing better than even the product is touted as performing is always exciting.

Also, for my own personal piece of mind, I got a stress test done at the local heart center to establish a baseline for future tests. Thankfully, everything looked good on the stress test other than I have a slightly irregular T-wave which I have been aware of for a number of years. Also, my doctor says that there are other medications going through clinical trials that help actually remove cholesterol build-up, something that I might be interested in once it gains FDA approval. Hopefully, now by lowering by cholesterol and keeping better tabs on my heart health I can look forward to a healthy heart well into old age.