What is Hormonal Therapy?
Hormone therapy is also called androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) or androgen suppression therapy. The goal is to reduce levels of male hormones, called androgens, in the body, or to stop them from affecting prostate cancer cells.
Why is Bone Health Important While Taking Hormonal Therapy?
Bone health preservation is critical for improving quality and quantity of life. Bone is a frequent site of metastases in men with advanced prostate cancer. Without testosterone, bones can become weak and break more easily, a condition known as osteoporosis. Since both prostate cancer and osteoporosis are more likely to occur in older men, men undergoing prostate cancer treatment may already have weakened bones. Studies have shown that treatment may make them even weaker. When prostate cancer cells invade the bone, they disrupt the normal bone remodeling process and weaken the bone structure. Genesis Comprehensive Prostate Cancer Center helps patients maintain strong healthy bones through regular bone density testing and improve bone health through nutrition, exercise, healthy lifestyle choices, and when appropriate, medication.
What if my Hormone Therapy is no Longer Working?
Usually, physicians will keep you on hormone therapy because it keeps the levels of testosterone in your body at a minimum. But, if the therapy isn’t working as well, you doctor may suggest a combination treatment. Anti-androgens are a type of hormone therapy that’s taken with your usual treatment to prevent the hormone from reaching the cancer cells.
