Lupron & Radiation Treatments for Prostate Cancer

After cancers of the skin, prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer in men, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The American Cancer Society reports that each year more than 190,000 new cases of prostate cancer are discovered and that one of every six men develops the disease during his lifetime. Approximately 27,000 men die from prostate cancer each year in the United States. With treatment, the five-year survival rate for prostate cancer is nearly 100 percent due to effective treatments like radiation and the prescription medication Lupron.

• Lupron injections help treat prostate cancer

Background

• Prostate cancer occurs when cells inside of the prostate begin to grow uncontrollably, forming tumors. While prostate cancer is usually treatable, there is a risk that cancerous cells will spread beyond the prostate and cause secondary cancers in other areas. The male hormone testosterone stimulates the actions of the prostate and exacerbates cancer, causing it to grow and spread more quickly.

Function

• Radiation therapy employs radioactive energy to target and destroy cancer cells within your prostate. There are two types of radiation therapy: those with an external source of radiation and brachytherapy, which uses radioactive seeds to deliver radiation from within your body. Lupron is an injectable medication available with a doctor's prescription. When administered, Lupron interferes with the actions of LH or leutinizing hormone, a substance that contributes to testosterone production in your body. This causes a drop in testosterone levels in your body, which slow the growth and spread of prostate cancer.

Features

• Doctors have the option to prescribe radiation and Lupron for concurrent or individual use. Using both therapies is most common for advanced forms of prostate cancer, according to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. External radiation usually takes place daily or every other day for six to eight weeks on an outpatient basis, while brachytherapy requires only one visit to have the seeds implanted and possibly one visit to have them removed. Lupron injections are usually administered every few days for a period of three to four weeks.

Side Effects and Risks

• Approximately 12 to 20 percent of men who receive radiation therapy for prostate cancer develop urinary side effects, including incontinence or the leaking of urine and difficulty maintaining a steady stream of urine, according to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. These side effects are most common in men who had underlying urinary problems due to prostate enlargement prior to treatment. Impotence is another possible side effects of prostate cancer radiation as well as diarrhea, hemorrhoids, urgency related to defecation and fatigue. Some men suffer from permanent infertility after prostate radiation, and less than 1 percent of men experience damage to other tissues, such as the bladder and rectum, reports the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. The most common side effects of Lupron is hot flashes, which occur in 55 percent of men treated with the drug, reports RxList. Other possible side effects of Lupron include feminine swelling of breast tissue, weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, constipation, decreased testicular size, impotence, body pains, headaches, insomnia and urinary urgency. Use of the drug causes cardiovascular side effects in up to 8 percent of users, such as hypertension, congestive heart failure and blood clots, according to RxList.

Self-Care

• A nutritious diet and adequate sleep help limit the effects of radiation therapy, according to the American Cancer Society. Wearing loose clothing helps reduce some of the skin irritation that may occur during treatment. If you develop side effects from Lupron, talk to your oncologist about methods of handling them. Keep in mind that most side effects of both radiation therapy and Lupron disappear or diminish and gradually subside once the treatment ends.