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In the treatment of prostate cancer,
luteinizing
hormone-releasing hormone agonists can
cause hormone
flare. Luteinizing hormone-releasing
hormone is also written as LHRH and is the chemical
released by the hypothalamus to create the hormone testosterone.
LHRH is also known gonadotropin-releasing Hormone or
GnRH.
Use of LHRH agonist or a GnRH agonist
can cause a phenomenon called hormone flare, where the
levels of testosterone spike up for a period of 7 to
10 days. For patients who are in earlier stages of prostate
cancer, the hormone flare is not a problem and will
not send the prostate cancer into a more aggressive
growth. However, for patients who have advanced prostate
cancer bone
metastasis, hormone flare can be painful and even
dangerous. The use of anti-androgens before
LHRH agonist can prevent hormone flare.
Once the LHRH drug is inside the
body, patients will usually experience some side effects
from either ingesting the drug or dropping to a castration
level amount of testosterone. Some less common side
effects that may occur with use of LHRH agonists include:
- fast and irregular heart beat
- bone, muscles, and joint pain
- fainting and fast and irregular breathing and shortness of breath
- numbness and tingling in the hands and feet
- swelling of the eyes and the eyelids
- skin rash or hives and itching
- pains in the chest or tightness of chest and wheezing
- pain in the groin or the legs, especially the calves
If these symptoms are severe, they may require consultation with a physician. Other more common symptoms that are less severe include:
- hot flashes
- burning, itching, redness, and swelling at the injection site
- blurred vision
- dizziness and headaches
- nausea and vomiting and constipation
- gynecomastia (swelling or tenderness and pain of the breasts)
- swelling or feet and lower legs
- trouble sleeping
- decreased size of testicles
- inability to maintain an erection satisfactory for intercourse
- decrease interest in sex
There are side effects beyond those listed here that may occur with hormone therapy. Patients should pay attention to their bodies and note any changes they may want to report to a doctor. Side effects often occur with the benefits of prostate cancer hormone therapy. Side effects associated with hormone therapy may go away on their own as the body readjusts to the new agents. Patients who find the severity of side effects interferes with the enjoyment of everyday life should speak with their doctors. Prostate cancer hormone therapy is a valuable tool in halting the growth of the tumor. Doctors may encourage their patients to stay with hormone therapy to see if the body adjusts and the side effects go away, or they may want to change the medication or the therapy.
Men who undergo prostate cancer hormone therapy to ablate their testosterone may notice a change in the way facial and body hair grows. Men, however, will not turn into women, nor will they lose secondary sexual characteristics. Patients who are considering hormone therapy as a prostate cancer treatment should speak with their doctors about the advantages and disadvantages that different LHRH agonist drugs offer. |
