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Hormone therapy for prostate cancer: Pros and cons
By Mayo Clinic staff| Pros of hormone therapy | Cons of hormone therapy |
|---|---|
| It can temporarily slow the growth of prostate cancer and shrink existing tumors, reducing your symptoms and prolonging life in some cases. | It doesn't get rid of cancer on its own. It must be used in conjunction with another form of treatment if it's being used with the intent to cure. |
| With the exception of testicle removal, hormone therapy can be stopped, allowing the return of normal hormone production. | The potential side effects of hormone therapy include nausea, diarrhea and fatigue. Other possible side effects include hot flashes, breast enlargement, loss of muscle mass and bone mass (osteoporosis), loss of sex drive, and impotence. |
| If you stop hormone therapy, as is often done during intermittent therapy, side effects may go away. | Your cancer eventually might become resistant to hormonal drug therapy. |
| Some medications can cost hundreds of dollars a month and may not be covered by insurance. | |
| It increases your risk of diabetes and heart disease and may cause liver damage. |
