Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer

The Option of Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is an incredibly serious issue, particularly in the world of today where it is known for being the most commonly occurring cancer in men, namely those over the age of 50. Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that originates in the prostate gland, the prostate being a major part of the male reproductive system. The prostate is about the size of a large walnut, and it is located just below the bladder at the base of the penis, near the urethra.

Causes

The exact cause of prostate cancer is unknown, although there are a few different risk factors that are believed to likely be responsible, including age in particular, as most men who develop prostate cancer are over the age of 50, however all men are at risk. Having a family history of prostate cancer is also a large factor in regards to your risk of developing it yourself, and so you should always be aware of your family’s background.

Treatment

As of yet there is no cure for prostate cancer, although the future looks incredibly bright, what with all the research and funding that is going into the situation. There are however various forms of treatment that are available for this cancer, one of the most commonly referred being hormone therapy for prostate cancer.

Hormone therapy for prostate cancer is also known as androgen deprivation therapy, and basically the goal here is to suppress or reduce the levels of the male hormones, or androgens in the body. Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, which are the two main androgens in the male body, are produced mainly in the testicles, and work by stimulating prostate cancer cells to grow. Therefore, with this hormone therapy for prostate cancer, the goal is not to actually remove the cancer but rather to reduce the levels of these male hormones that are causing the cancer to spread.

This hormone therapy for prostate cancer treatment method may be used in several different situations, including: when you are not able to have surgery or radiation treatments, if your prostate cancer either remains or recurs, an as an addition to other forms of treatment if you are at high risk for cancer recurrence.

Besides hormone therapy for prostate cancer, the major form of treatment is radial prostatectomy, which is a type of surgery that is conducted in order to remove the entire prostate gland as well as any nearby lymph nodes. If you are in good health the risks of the surgery are low, although you can lose a lot of blood during the surgery and as well impotence is a likely risk.