Hormone-sensitive prostate cancer

Many prostate cancer cells use male hormones, including testosterone, as growth signals. Hormone-directed treatment reduces hormone production or prevents the signal from reaching cancer cells. Doctors may recommend it alone or combine it with surgery, radiotherapy or another treatment, depending on whether the disease is confined to the prostate or has spread. Hormone sensitivity describes how the cancer behaves with treatment; it does not by itself define the stage, outlook or exact medicine needed.

Take treatment as prescribed and attend planned reviews, which may include symptom checks, blood tests and scans. Tell the team about hot flushes, tiredness, mood changes, sexual changes, weight change or reduced strength; these effects can often be discussed and managed. Ask about activity, nutrition and bone health. Depending on the cancer's features, care may involve radiotherapy, brachytherapy, prostate removal surgery, robotic cancer surgery, targeted radioisotope therapy or bone-strengthening therapy.

Contact your oncology team promptly for new or worsening bone pain, difficulty passing urine, fever, unexplained weakness, a fall or symptoms that interfere with daily activities. Seek urgent help for inability to pass urine, new leg weakness or numbness, loss of bladder or bowel control, severe back pain, chest pain or breathlessness. These warning symptoms need assessment regardless of whether hormone treatment is working.

What makes my cancer hormone-sensitive, and what response are we looking for? How will you monitor treatment? What side effects should I report early? Would combining hormone treatment with surgery or radiotherapy help in my stage? How can we protect bone health and maintain strength?