Prostate Cancer: Hormone Therapy

Hormone treatment (also called androgen deprivation or androgen suppressive therapy) involves the removal, the blockade or addition of hormones to treat prostate cancer.  

Hormones - a chemical substance produced by glands in the body, which enter the bloodstream and affect other tissues.

Why is hormone treatment used for prostate cancer?
 

Prostate cancer grows when exposed to the male hormone testosterone and related hormones, called androgens. Hormone therapy for prostate cancer is used to stop the production of testosterone and all androgens, either temporarily or permanently.

Hormone therapy may be carried out in many ways. One of them - an injection or tablets. Drugs can halt the production of testosterone by the testes and protect cells from other androgens that remain in the body.  

 

To hormonal drugs may include:

The use of various hormones such as estrogen to counteract the influence of testosterone.The use of drugs that reduce testosterone levels or block the activity of male hormones in the body. These include the antiandrogenic agents, releasing factor analogs of luteinizing hormone (LHRH) or agonists.Use of combined hormone therapy, which reduces testosterone in the testes and glands, located on the kidneys and produce hormones called adrenal glands.Hormone therapy may also include surgical removal of the testicles (orchiectomy), which produce testosterone. It does not give male hormones to stimulate further growth of prostate cancer.

 When the hormone treatment used for prostate cancer?

Hormone therapy is primarily used when prostate cancer has spread beyond the prostate gland. This is not a cure for cancer. The purpose of hormone therapy is, firstly, to delay the progression of cancer, and, secondly, to increase survival and quality of life. If the patient is not responding to initial hormone treatment, your doctor may try other hormonal methods before recommending chemotherapy.
 

Suitable for hormone treatment?

Hormone therapy may be used in men with varying degrees of malignancy of prostate cancer. For example, it is often used in men after surgery for best results. Factors to be taken into account - the quality of life, treatment cost and how effective and safe hormonal treatment may be in a particular case.