Post Hormone Therapy a year on - my husband is still struggling mentally and physically. Has this happened to anyone else?

My hub finished RT & HT February 2025.  I've been told that the RT continues for 6 months after treatment.
The past couple of months and to now, his breasts have become very tender and hurt when pressed even lightly. His Right breast did stop hurting for a while, with the Left being very sensitive.  Now, the Right is back to being very sensitive.  His testicles ache, usually one or the other, his Perineum aches at times.

His mental and physical strength is at an all time low, which we know are side effects of the HT, but it is continuing.

If he tries to do anything physical eg washing up, dusting, some garden plant pruning, he gets overwhelmed with fatigue quickly, or feels head sickness, and cannot continue.
Changes, we think positive, are happening, but it is so slow.
He wonders if this will ever go away.

We would be very interested to know whether anyone else experiences or did experience any of this?

  • I'm really sorry to hear how difficult things have been for your husband since he finished his RT and HT last year.

    Coping with the side effects of hormone therapy can be very tough but I hope this information I've included will help.

    Hopefully some of our members who have contended with similar side effects will share their experience and advice with you soon but if you or your husband would like to discuss this with one of our cancer nurses, they're available on 0808 800 4040, Monday - Friday between 9a.m - 5p.m. They're very knowledgeable and will do all they can to address your questions and concerns.

    If you haven't done so already, don't hesitate to reach out to your husband's medical team and/or GP for further support and advice as well.

    This must be a very challenging time for you both, but we are here for you pollyj and we'll have our fingers crossed that things start to get better for your husband soon.

    Kind regards,

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Thanks, but I don't see anywhere about side effects that can happen after the HT has stopped.

    While hub was on HT expected side effects happened, but the breast tenderness, testicle and perineum aches are happening now - a few months after the HT stopped.

    Also, as someone else described, mental chaos.

  • Offline in reply to pollyj

    I have had  to come off HT ( Abiraterone + Sreroids after two years because of side effects- Atrial Fibulation, leg oedema and tiredness and my PSA went DOWN!  New one (Orgovyx) appears a lot gentler but time will tell. Just remember, people, new advances in treatment are occurring all the time so keep optomistic!