What to know before getting adp treatment

For prostate cancer patients considering androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), here are some important things to know before starting this treatment, based on guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN):

• ADT works by lowering testosterone levels to deprive prostate cancer cells of the androgens they need to grow. It does not get rid of the cancer, but can shrink tumors and slow disease progression.

• Types of ADT include surgical castration (orchiectomy) or medical castration using injectable or oral medications called GnRH agonists or antagonists.

• Common side effects of ADT include hot flashes, loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, muscle loss, bone loss increasing fracture risk, metabolic changes, and possible cognitive/memory issues.

• ADT increases risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other conditions, so monitoring and management of these potential side effects is important.

• The NCCN recommends considering intermittent vs continuous ADT for men with non-metastatic prostate cancer to allow breaks and reduce side effect exposure.

• For metastatic prostate cancer, continuous ADT is typically recommended as part of a multi-modality treatment approach potentially including chemotherapy.

It's important to discuss the goals, benefits, risks and side effect management strategies with your doctor before initiating ADT. While very effective, it has significant quality of life impacts requiring careful consideration.