

The spread of cancer is described here. When cancer has spread through the capsule of the prostate or the seminal vesicles (T3) or into the surrounding structures (T4), it is called locally advanced prostate cancer. Men with locally advanced prostate cancer have a higher risk that cancer cells may have already spread.
You may be offered other treatment to kill any cells that could have spread beyond the prostate. You may be offered radiotherapy treatment to include the surrounding structures (as well as the prostate), usually in combination with two to three years of hormone therapy. Hormone treatment can delay or prevent the cancer coming back in other places and is given by tablets or injections.
Some men with locally advanced prostate cancer are treated with hormone therapy alone. The choice depends on factors that you will discuss with your doctor.
There are two types of hormone treatments that can be used to treat locally advanced prostate cancer:
To grow, the prostate cancer cells need the male hormone testosterone. Hormone treatments work in different ways to prevent testosterone stimulating the prostate cancer cells. The LHRH agonists will prevent testosterone from being produced by the testicles and are given as an injection. The anti-androgens block the action of testosterone on the prostate cancer cells and are given as tablets. They are both effective in treating this stage of prostate cancer but have different side effects.
It is important to know that many people will experience emotional as well as physical side effects while on hormone therapy. Many men on hormone therapy have less energy and feel less motivated, and you may also experience changes in your mood, such as feeling more sentimental, more irritable or more tearful than usual. This is nothing to be ashamed of.
What are the risks and side effects of anti-androgen drug therapy?
These drugs allow some men to maintain their sex drive and sexual activity and do not cause any reduction in bone strength, which can be a side effect of LHRH agonists. In some men, the drugs cause loss of body hair, the breasts to grow and sore nipples.
These drugs stop the release of a hormone that sends signals to the testicles to produce testosterone. It is a roundabout way of switching off testosterone and so helps to stop prostate cancer from growing. The first injection is usually given at the hospital, but further injections can be given by your GP. The injections are repeated every month or every three months, according to the recommendations of your doctor.
What are the risks and side effects of hormone-manipulation drug therapy?