Prostate Cancer Hormone

There are many ways to treat instances of cancer of the prostrate. But to understand the use of hormone treatment in these cases it is first important to understand how the cancer itself divides, multiplies and grows.

This particular cancer makes use of the hormone testosterone to help it get bigger. If you think of this hormone as a food source, it makes sense that removing that food source will starve the cancer and cause it to stop growing. And of course, following on from that it can actually shrink the tumor too, which is good news.

This is why a good treatment for prostate cancer is to remove that source of testosterone, or at least significantly reduce the amount that your body is generating. This kind of treatment is more often offered if you have not been able to have the tumor removed via surgery. It could also be offered if you have had surgery but the cancer has come back, or spread beyond its original site in the prostate.

You may also see hormone therapy described as androgen deprivation therapy, but it is basically the same thing. Testosterone is an androgen, and so the aim of the therapy is to reduce the levels of this androgen in your body. This in turn will starve the cancer and cause it to stop growing or possibly even shrink.

You may have noticed here that hormone therapy is not used to rid the body completely of cancer. The aim is to shrink, reduce and stop it from developing further. But even though it will not get rid of it completely it can be used for a significant length of time quite successfully.

As with all instances of cancer – whether they occur in the prostate or elsewhere – all cases are different. Some cancers are much faster to develop than others, whereas others could take years to start having any major effect. If your cancer cannot be removed or cured then hormone therapy is the next best step, because it can control the cancer for quite some time.

There are other ways to reduce the amount of testosterone you have in your body however. One method is to remove the testicles, which are the main source of this androgen. The downside of this is that it can affect you sexually, so if this is offered as a possible treatment you may wish to ask about hormone therapy first. Remember that you are always entitled to ask questions to enable you to understand the treatment you may be given. And in addition to this you should be comfortable with the possible outcome and side effects of each one.

There are a few other types of drugs which may be given as ways to lower the percentage of androgens you have in your body, but the above methods are more common. Your doctor may recommend one over another depending on your own personal condition and the development of your cancer. Your general health may also be a factor, as will your own wishes and feelings about the treatment. All of these are equally important so take time to discuss your concerns before you start your agreed course of treatment.

It is easy to become worried or depressed if you have discovered your prostate cancer cannot be completely removed or cured. But do remember that in many cases cancer of the prostate can be effectively controlled by the use of hormone therapy. As such, this could be something you take for several months or even years, to improve the quality of your life.

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