Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy is used to shrink the cancer and slow the growth of tumors.
Hormone therapy fundamentally aims at preventing the testicle from producing the male hormone called testosterone.
Testosterone is responsible for the growth of prostate tissue and hence the tumor. Medications, surgery, or other hormones are used to reduce the amount of male hormones or block them from working.
Medications
Leutinizing hormone-releasing hormones agonists like leuprolide, goserelin, triptorelin and histrelin prevent the testicles from receiving messages to make testosterone.
Anti-androgens like flutamide, bicalutamide and nilutamide prevent testosterone from reaching your cancer cells.
Surgery
Orchiectomy i.e. surgery to remove the testicles reduces testosterone levels in the body. It may lower testosterone levels more quickly than medications.
Side-effects of hormone therapy include:
- Decreased libido
- Weak bones
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Intense itching (pruritis)
