What is Hormone Therapy?
Hormone therapy is a treatment option for prostate cancer. It is most commonly used in the treatment of malignancies that have spread beyond the prostate gland.
Your body produces hormones to control the growth and activity of healthy cells, but some of these hormones may stimulate the growth of prostate cancer. The male hormone testosterone, which is produced by the testicles, appears to have a direct effect on the growth of prostate cancer.
Hormone therapy aims at limiting the access to testosterone, thereby 'starving' cancer and reducing the growth or shrinking of the tumour. When you receive hormone therapy, you may experience a reduction in the tumour and symptoms, which may last for a number of years. Reducing the size of the tumour is also useful when planning radiation therapy or the surgical removal of the prostate.
Methods of Reducing the Production of Hormones
Testosterone is produced mainly in the testicles and the rate of production is controlled by the pituitary gland in the brain. There are two main methods of reducing the production of these hormones, through surgery or medication.
Surgical hormone therapy: As testosterone is produced by the testicles, the quickest method of reducing its production is by removing part of the testicles; this procedure is known as orchiectomy. The testicle is removed through a small incision in the groin or scrotum while you are under a general anaesthetic.
While this is a simple procedure that only requires one night in the hospital, the recovery period may be painful and there are a number of possible side effects. Most of these symptoms can be treated with medication, but there are also psychological aspects related to the non-reversibility of the procedure to consider.
Medical hormone therapy: The levels of testosterone hormone can be reduced using medication. Although this process may take longer, the efficacy is the same as the surgical method. Medications work by suppressing the hormones produced by the pituitary gland in the brain, which stimulates the testes to create testosterone. The hormone drugs can be administered at home or in the hospital, either as tablets or injections, monthly, quarterly or every 4 months.
Side effects of Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapies may have a number of side effects, whether performed surgically or through medication. Common side effects include decreased libido, erectile dysfunction (impotence), infertility, gynecomastia (the development of swollen breast tissue), hot flushes and nausea. Most of these side effects can be treated or will pass with time.
It is important to realize that hormone therapy is not a cure and some cancers can become hormone-resistant. It is not known how this happens but has been noted with both the medical and surgical methods. However, it is also vital to discuss treatment alternatives and possible side effects with your doctor so that you can make an informed decision about which treatment option is best for you.
