What You Need To Know About Hormone Therapy by Evan Goldfischer, M.D. (NAPSA)—Hormone therapy— also called androgen deprivation therapy (ADT)—is used to reduce levels of male hormones called androgens. Testosterone is the most well-known androgen and a principal target of hormonetherapy. Testosterone also stimulates prostate cancercells to grow. The goal of hormonetherapyis to slow the growth of prostate cancercells andhelp shrink tumors. If you are newly diagnosed with advancedprostate cancer, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure. Among other issues, you may be coping with complex treatment decisions. Choices include surgery to removethe prostate, radiation therapy and hormonetherapy. Since an estimated 50 percent ofprostate cancerpatients will be candidates for hormone therapy during the course of their treatment, a brief primeron this option mayhelp you weigh your alternatives. Once you understand hormone therapy, I will recommend the key questions you should ask yourdoctor about this treatment. Patients with advanced prostate cancer have several options whenconsidering treatment. One is surgery, also called an orchiectomy. This procedure removes the testicles, which produce more than 90 percent of male hormones. Other treatments include prescription medications that target the hormones responsible for regulating testosterone production: gonadotropin-releasing hor mone (GnRH) antagonists and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormones (LHRH). With LHRH agonists, patients generally experience an initial surge in testosterone production that maylast several days. It may take up to 30 days to reduce testosterone levels to adequate levels. Doctors typically try to counteract the surge by prescribing oral anti-androgens, which block the body’s ability to use testosterone. However, there is potential for moreside effects and therapy may becomecostly. Testosterone surge is a serious consideration because it may stimulate tumor growth and cause Dr. Goldfischer painful and potentially dangerous symptoms in certain patients. These symptoms include bone pain, urinary retention and pressure in the spine, which canresult in paralysis and even death. Shutting down testosterone immediatelyis the hallmarkof the latest advancementin hormone therapy, Firmagon (degarelix for injection), which is a GnRH receptor antagonist indicated for treatment. of patients with locally advanced prostate cancer. Unlike LHRH agonists, Firmagon binds immediately andreversibly to GnRH receptors of the pituitary gland, blocking those receptors and virtually stopping LH production. As a result, Firmagon causes a rapid, profound and sustained suppression of testosterone within three days—without the initial surge triggered by LHRH agonist therapy. It is also not necesry to use anti-androgensto block al testosteronesurges. i Finally, as a patient diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer who may undergo hormonetherapy, the key questions you should ask your doctor are: 1. Am I a candidate for hormone therapy to treat my advanced prostate cancer? 9. Is my cancer at the stage where I could potentially benefit from hormonetherapy? 3. What type of hormonetherapy doyou typically prescribe for your patients with advanced prostate cancer and why? For more information about advanced prostate cancer, talk to your doctor and visit www-firmagon.com to learn more about this treatment. peeeene ene nneene Reece en enn cen cence en ceneeneenee Note to Editors: Before receiving FIRMAGON, tell your health care provider about all your medicalconditions, including if you have any heart problems, problems with balance of your bodysalts orelectrolytes (such as sodium, potassium,calcium and magnesium),or have kidney or liver problems. INDICATIONS AND USAGE FIRMAGON is a prescription medicine used in the treatmentof advanced prostate cancer. Important Safety Information FIRMAGON should not be given to people whoareallergic to any of the ingredients in FIRMAGON.It should not be given to women who are pregnant or may become pregnant. FIRMAGONcan harm an unborn baby whengiven to a pregnant woman. ‘The commonside effects of FIRMAGONinclude hot flashes, injection site pain,redness and swelling (especially with thefirst dose), weight gain, increase in someliver enzymes,tiredness, hypertension, back andjoint pain, chills, urinary tract infection, and decreased sex drive and trouble with erectile fiction (impotence). Please see Full Prescribing Information.
