Prostate Cancer Requiring Hormone Therapy

According to information from the medical site Medline Plus, prostate cancer is a cancer whose development appears to be linked to the presence of the hormone testosterone in the body. As prostate cancer requires systemic testosterone levels to be high to continue spreading, application of hormone therapy (or other means) to reduce the body's floating levels of testosterone can help curb the spread of prostate cancer. As this particular form of treatment carries with it some undesirable side effects, it is not for everyone.

Hormone Treatment Choices

• Understand the basic uses and options for individuals seeking hormone therapy to enable yourself to select the treatment methodology that is best for you. According to Medline Plus, hormone therapy to combat prostate cancer is most often used in individuals whose cancer has begun to spread to other areas of the body, curbing its rate of development and buying the patient additional time. There are a number of differing methods that can be utilized to effectuate hormone therapy. According to the American Cancer Society, these include surgical castration (removal of the testicles), chemical castration (implants that reduce the level of testosterone produced by the testicles), anti-androgen medications (drugs that block the body's ability to use androgens--male hormones--in the bloodstream) or the introduction of external estrogens into the body. Which of these methods is best for any particular case of prostate cancer depends on the goals of treatment and budgetary means, so it is a decision that must be made in conjunction with your physician.

Hormone Therapy Side Effects

• Understand the various risks involved in hormone therapy before making the decision to undergo a course of treatment. As androgen deprivation therapy will interfere with (or completely halt) your body's ability to utilize male hormones, you can expect to undergo a number of changes, both psychologically and physiologically. According to the American Cancer Society, some of these side effects include: loss of libido, complete impotence, menopausal-like symptoms, including hot flashes and osteoporosis, brain fog (decreased cognitive ability), gains in body fat levels, depression, and possibly even the onset of gynecomastia, which is the development of male breast tissue.