Prostate Cancer Drugs

There are various prostate cancer drugs used to treat this disease in men. Hormone therapy involves a variety of drugs that are taken to reduce the amount of testosterone in the body. Prostate cancer cells require testosterone to thrive; therefore, the concept is to introduce synthetic drugs that will drastically reduce the amount of testosterone produced by the body. Many men undergo hormonal therapy because it does seem to work in a large percentage of cases and it has been shown to decrease the risk of metastasis.

Side effects of hormonal therapy are not always pleasant, as these drugs can increase breast size, reduce libido, bring on impotence, and even mimic the signs of menopause, including hot flashes and mood swings. Men on hormonal therapy drugs may need outside counseling to deal with the changes they are experiencing due to the cancer treatment. Sometimes the side effects of prostate cancer drugs are just as troublesome for the patient as the cancer itself.

A new drug that is being used in clinical trials only is a vaccine called Provenge. This vaccine is given to men who have already been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and it has shown promising results. In clinical trials, the men who received Provenge injections lived longer than the men who received a placebo. The only side effects were flu-like symptoms. More studies need to be conducted on this drug, but it may be on the market soon.

Prostate Cancer Drugs for Survival

Each year, over 200,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer, and of that number, 30,000 will die. Research continues to introduce new drugs that are able to destroy cancer cells and prolong life. Chemotherapy has been around for years, and it continues to be used in the fight against prostate cancer. There are also numerous homeopathic remedies and herbal supplements that may help, such as saw palmetto and green tea. Talk to your doctor today about the best treatments available for prostate cancer.