What should you know about testosterone and prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer cells can respond to male hormones called androgens, including testosterone. Lowering testosterone or preventing its action can slow hormone-sensitive disease, but it does not suit every situation or replace all other treatments. Cancer behaviour, stage, symptoms, scan findings and previous care guide decisions. Testosterone replacement should never be started, stopped or changed without the clinician managing your prostate cancer.

Your team may discuss injections, tablets or other medicines that reduce hormone signals, sometimes with surgery or radiation treatment. Possible effects include hot flushes, reduced sexual desire, erection changes, tiredness, mood changes and loss of muscle strength. Ask about exercise, bone health, heart health and symptom support. If you have urinary symptoms, describe their timing and severity; difficulty passing urine can need assessment but does not by itself establish the cause.

Seek urgent help for inability to pass urine, new leg weakness, numbness around the groin, loss of bowel control, severe back pain, or sudden confusion. These may signal pressure on nerves or urinary blockage. Contact your cancer team promptly for troublesome treatment effects, new bone pain or symptoms that are worsening rather than settling.

Is my cancer hormone-sensitive? What is the aim of lowering testosterone in my case? Which treatment will you use and for how long? How will you monitor the cancer and treatment effects? Should I have bone or heart-health checks? Could a urology or fertility referral help?