Hormone therapy for prostate cancer can cause a number of
physical and emotional side effects.
Loss of sex drive (libido), erection problems and tiredness are all common
side effects. You can read more about dealing with them by clicking
the links above.
Other possible side effects of hormone
therapy include:
Watch Bruce's story for one man's experience managing the side
effects of hormone therapy:
Hot flushes
Hot flushes are a common side effect of hormone therapy. They
give you a sudden feeling of warmth in the upper body and can be
similar to those experienced by women going through the menopause.
They may happen suddenly without warning or they may be triggered
by stress, a hot drink or a change in the temperature around
you.
Hot flushes can vary from a few seconds of feeling overheated to
a few hours of sweating that can stop you from sleeping or cause
discomfort. Some men may not be worried by the symptoms, but other
men may find them very disruptive and difficult to cope with. If
your hot flushes are affecting your everyday life, speak to your
doctor or nurse. There are a number of different options to help
you manage hot flushes, including lifestyle changes, drug
treatments and complementary therapies. You can read more about hot
flushes in our booklet Living with hormone therapy: a
guide for men with prostate cancer
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Breast swelling and
tenderness
Hormone therapy may cause swelling (gynaecomastia) and
tenderness in the breast area. This can affect one or both breasts
and can range from mild sensitivity to ongoing pain. The amount of
swelling can also vary from a small degree of swelling to a more
noticeable enlarged breast area. Breast swelling and tenderness can
make some men feel uncomfortable about their bodies. You may like
to talk to your doctor about the treatments available to help
prevent or reduce breast swelling and tenderness. There are a
number of options available that can help to reduce your risk of
breast swelling and tenderness or help to treat it.
These include:
- Treating the breast area with a single dose of
radiotherapy
- Tablets
- Surgery
You can read more about breast swelling and tenderness in our
side effects information.
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Weight gain
Hormone therapy may cause you to put on weight, particularly
around the waist. Some men find this physical change difficult to
cope with, particularly if they have never had any problems with
their weight in the past. Physical activity and a healthy diet can
help you stay a healthy weight. It can take some time to lose any
weight that you may have put on during hormone therapy. If you are
finding it difficult to lose weight, ask to be referred to a state
registered dietitian. You can read more about healthy eating and
physical activity in our Diet, physical activity and prostate cancer
page.
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Changes to your mood
Hormone therapy may also affect your mood. You may find that you
feel more emotional than usual or just 'different' to how you felt
before. Some men may also experience low moods or depression. This
can be as a direct result of hormone therapy, a response to the
shock of diagnosis or the impact that treatment can have on your
life.
Your doctor and nurse may be a good source of support. You may
also find it helpful to talk to your partner, close friends and
family, or to a counsellor. Read more about the support available to
you.
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Strength and muscle
loss
Testosterone plays an important role in the physical make up of
men's bodies. Compared with women, men usually have less body fat
and more muscle strength. Hormone therapy reduces the amount of
testosterone and can cause a decrease in muscle tissue and an
increase in the amount of body fat. This can change the way your
body looks and how physically strong you feel. Regular resistance
exercise may help to reduce muscle loss and keep your muscles
strong.
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Forgetfulness
and problems with concentration
Hormone therapy may affect your thought processes, including
things such as memory and concentration. We do not know for sure
whether this is caused by the hormone therapy or whether other
factors, such as hot flushes and fatigue, may play a part. Feeling
tired or having problems with memory and concentration may happen
naturally as you get older, or if you are feeling stressed, anxious
or depressed. But it can help to keep your mind active, for
example, by doing crosswords or other puzzles.
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Risk of heart disease and
diabetes
Some studies have found that men receiving hormone therapy have
an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. More research is
needed for us to understand the exact link between hormone therapy
and these conditions
You may be able to help reduce your risk by:
- Eating a healthy diet
- Taking regular exercise
- Limiting the amount of salt you eat
- Avoiding smoking
- Cutting down on alcohol
Talk to your GP about how often you should have regular health
checks.
Read more
about healthy eating and physical activity.
Some types of hormone therapy reduce the amount of testosterone
in your body, which can cause your bones to gradually lose their
bulk. LHRH agonists, GnRH antagonists and surgery to remove the
testicles (orchidectomy) may all have this effect. This can happen
within six to 12 months of beginning treatment and the amount of
bone loss may increase the longer you are on treatment.
Anti-androgens and oestrogens do not cause bone thinning.
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Bone thinning
If bone thinning is severe, it can lead to a condition called
osteoporosis, which can increase your risk of bone fractures. There
are a number of lifestyle changes such as exercise and changes to
your diet that may help to reduce your risk of bone thinning and
developing osteoporosis. If you already have osteoporosis, have a
family history of osteoporosis or have had fractures in the past,
talk to your doctor before you start treatment with LHRH agonists
or have an orchidectomy.
Living with hormone therapy: A
guide for men with prostate cancer
For men who are having hormone therapy for prostate cancer,
their partners and families. It describes the different types of
hormone therapy, how they work and what the treatment involves. It
includes possible side effects men may experience and suggests ways
to help manage these.
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