Prostate cancer is the second-most common cancer in American men. Before treatment begins, it is important to understand the side effects of the drugs used commonly to treat it.
According to Everyday Health, prostate cancer is commonly treated using radiation therapy, hormone therapy, or surgery in more advanced cases. The hormone therapy drugs used to treat prostate cancer are called androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), and injections are administered every few months.
Prostate cancer cells need testosterone to grow,
according to the Urology Care Foundation. Hormone therapy drugs can lower production of testosterone and other male sex hormones linked to prostate cancer.
Hormone therapy is the treatment of choice for men who are not candidates for surgery or other treatments.
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Urology Care Foundation said the major side effects of hormone therapy drugs are nausea and vomiting, hot flashes, anemia, lethargy, swollen or tender breasts, osteoporosis, and trouble getting an erection (erectile dysfunction).
Hormone therapy has been linked to increased risk for heart disease, heart attacks, and diabetes. Patients who already have heart disease or diabetes cannot take hormone therapy drugs and may instead be treated with chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy is often used to treat prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body or is not responding to hormone therapy,
said the American Cancer Society.
There are a few different chemotherapy drugs such as docetaxel, cabazitaxel, mitoxantrone, and estramustine, and they are typically used one at a time until improvement is seen.
Chemotherapy drugs are given in cycles lasting a couple of weeks after which there is a rest period so the body can recover.
The American Cancer Society explained that chemotherapy drugs attack cells like cancer that divide and reproduce quickly. However, chemotherapy drugs attack other tissues in the body where healthy cells also divide quickly such as in bone marrow where red blood cells are made and in the lining of the mouth and intestines.
Because of this assault, common side effects of chemotherapy include nausea and vomiting, hair loss, decreased appetite, mouth sores, diarrhea, increased infections, fatigue, and easy bruising or bleeding.
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