Personally if this the type of question you have and you already used deca I believe
1. you are lazy there is so much knowledge on the web you have not put the work into learning or don't have the passion to inform yourself with this life style
2. you have not put enough work and obsession you need to adopt this lifestyle.
3.i think you and your gym buddy are to young or just not mature enough yet.
So pls take hrs and hrs and read learn watch educate yourself so you will be ready and find out how to get the proper labs ordered and actually do them or ur gains will be shit your whole body will take more damage then needed and your sex life will take a shit.
My lived experience and those of all my friends outweigh scare reports on the web.