HealthWise KnowledgeBase
Antiandrogens for Prostate Cancer
Why It Is Used
An antiandrogen is often added to Reference luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) agonist therapy to prevent a rise in testosterone at the beginning of LH-RH agonist therapy. (The rise in testosterone can cause a tumor flare with bone pain, urinary blockage, or other symptoms of rapid cancer growth. But this growth does shrink over time.)
Antiandrogens can be used along with surgery to remove the testicles (Reference orchiectomy).
Antiandrogens may be used before or after radiation for men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer.
Antiandrogens are often used in combination with other hormone therapy to block the supply of testosterone. This is done to slow the growth of advanced prostate cancer and ease severe bone pain caused by the spread of cancer to the bones.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: September 12, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Reference Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology, Oncology |
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