Do men who are showing signs of a prostate cancer relapse need to start hormone therapy immediately? New research from the American Society of Clinical Oncology says no. Dr. Clifford A. Hudis, president of the Society, has produced a study that shows that starting hormone therapy at the first sign of relapse may not be the best option.
The study was released in a telephone news conference in advance of the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s summer meeting. In the study, men who had undergone either radiation therapy or surgery for prostate cancer, then had a rise in PSA levels after treatment, were studied. These patients had no other signs of prostate cancer problems other than PSA level increases, and this is a situation affecting around 60,000 men a year.
In a typical course of treatment, men in this situation would be given hormone therapy to block the development of testosterone and, in theory, stop the growth of the prostate cancer tumor. However, this creates unwanted side effects, including hot flashes, muscle weakness, osteoporosis, cardiac issues and problems with sex drive.
The study followed around 2,000 men with these PSA relapses, some of which chose immediate hormone therapy and some of which chose to wait until they had other signs of relapse. The 5- and 10-year overall survival rates or death rates showed no true difference. While the study was not randomized, it does point to a significant fact. Waiting to deliver hormone treatment after a relapse based on PSA alone can help preserve quality of life without harming the patient’s overall outcome. Doctors and patients need to weigh all of their options when choosing the best solution for treating their prostate cancers.
Prostate cancer is one of the most misunderstood diseases the modern man can face. To learn more about treatment options, and why waiting is often the best course of treatment, visit Dr. Bert Vorstman athttps://urologyweb.com/exclusive-medical-reports/
Dr. Vorstman also blogs at http://www.urologyweb.com/uro-health-blog/
Contact him directly at bvorstmanmd@gmail.com.