If you are asking this question, chances are that your physician has approached you with the possibility of hormone therapy. Before you make your final decision you really should sit down and have a serious look at the pros and cons of this prostate treatment method. There are some benefits and risks that are associated with it that make it a decision that should not be made lightly. More importantly you should voice any concerns you are having with your physician so that you can get his or her expert advice and guidance.

What is Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer?

This is a type of treatment that works by preventing DHT (dihydrotestosterone) from reaching the prostate cancer cells. Blocking DHT has been associated with successfully preventing from growing. In some cases it is believed to have actually caused the cancer to shrink in size. While this type of treatment shows a great deal of promise for treating prostate cancer, it is far from a cure for this dreaded disease. The reason it can’t qualify as a cure is because it is only able to prevent the cancer from returning or growing for about a year or two. The body builds up a tolerance or immunity to hormone therapy over times that renders it ineffective.

Potential Benefits of Hormone Therapy

The first benefit and most important to remember when it comes to this particular form of treatment is that it does work well in stopping out of control growth of these cancerous cells. If the cancer is beginning to spread this treatment can really put the breaks on. IN fact, it is often reserved for those times when the disease has spread beyond the prostate and is used in combination with other treatment methods as a preventative measure to keep the cancer from coming back rather than to treat the cancer.

One common form of this hormonal therapy for prostate cancer is orchiectomy. This is when the testicles are removed. Since the testicles produce the testosterone for the body, this stops the production which means there isn’t enough testosterone left over to be converted into DHT. The downside of this surgery is that it is incredibly invasive and is often unattractive to those who are being asked to consider it. The upside is that it often works quickly and effectively.

Medications are also often used for the purpose of blocking the actions of DHT that has reached prostate cells. Some of these medications include: nilutamide, bicalutamide, cyproterone acetate, and flutamide.  GnRH antagonists are other hormonal treatments that are effective when it comes to preventing prostate cancer from taking over the body and spreading out of control. This medication works by suppressing the production of LH after an initial spike in production. Abrelix is a commonly prescribed GnRH antagonist.

With consideration given to the serious emotional issues associated with orchiectomies, GnRH is more commonly prescribed than the surgical procedure.

There are many other medications that work to restrict the production or function of certain hormones within the body. You will definitely want to discuss your options for hormone therapy with your doctor before embarking upon a course of treatment that might include an invasive and irreversible surgery.

Hormone therapy for prostate cancer is growing more and more common as part of the treatment process. There are very few silver linings to enjoy after learning of a prostate cancer diagnosis. Hopefully the fact that early detection is leading to greater success rates and the development of even more treatments that are minimally invasive, as with hormonal medications. Your main decision now becomes whether or not you are interested in following this course of treatment or wish to pursue other options.