Prostrate Cancer – Hormone Treatment

There are some who opt for hormone treatment when it comes to prostrate cancer. The main idea of this kind of treatment is to bring down the testosterone production as this production in some cases stimulates the prostatic cells that are cancerous.

These prostatic cells that are cancerous only make the disease worse. And when it reacts with the androgenic hormone that is testosterone – the spread of the cancer cells will only accelerate. Prostate cancer and the hormone therapy for this disease takes into consideration the testosterone production and how it stimulates the testosterone on cells that are cancerous and how to control the production of testosterone by the testes.

Hormone treatment for prostrate cancer is done in two ways, the first one is to deprive the cells that are cancerous of testosterone by either surgically removing the testes or by medication. If one chooses surgery then orchiectomy which is otherwise known as castration will have to be done. This is said to have a positive effect in controlling prostate cancer and making hormone treatment very effective. The testes are the main organs that produce testosterone. Without the hormone testosterone, the cells that are cancerous will not have any stimulus to act on and hence the spread of cancer will be slowed.

Medication is the second approach towards the control of hormone treatment and prostate cancer. Anti-androgenic drugs are taken to stop the effects of testosterone on the prostate. Another drug that is called LH-RH agonists may also be taken; this drug stops the release of the LH-RH related signals that come from the brain. The luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) goes from to the brain to the testes to produce testosterone. Once these signals are blocked this will control and lessen testosterone production.

Using hormone treatment to control prostate cancer has some side effects like weight gain, fertility loss, hot flashes, impotence, vomiting and loss of the sex drive. Some side effects are of a permanent nature and a few are temporary.

Hormone treatment may not help all patients suffering from prostate cancer. There are tumors called androgen-independent prostate cancers – these grow even in the absence of testosterone. Hormone treatment helps prostate cancer that has spread locally. Hormone treatment is applicable for those people who do not want to undergo surgical procedure that is radical prostatectomy as in this procedure the whole prostate gland is removed. If a person does not want to undergo radiation treatment which includes the implant of a radioactive seed or other external radiation processes, then hormone therapy is the only other option.

Hormone treatment for prostate cancer to a large extent is effective in controlling the condition. Like other treatments it also has its side effects. It is all up to you and your loved ones to decide together with your doctor as to which prostate cancer solution is the most acceptable to you. Make sure you make the right choice.

Author: Milos Pesic

Milos Pesic is an expert in the field of Prostate Cancer and runs a highly popular and comprehensive Prostate Cancer web site. For more articles and resources on Prostate Cancer related topics, treatment options and much more visit his site at:

=>http://prostate.need-to-know.net/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Milos_Pesic

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