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Take hormone tablets or not?

Chris1951
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Please see my profile details for a little background to my situation.

I have a big decision to make. My operation is scheduled for 23rd December, and my surgeon has given me some hormone tablets to take it I want to. There are 5 weeks to go before the op, and I was getting very anxious about the possibility of the cancer leaving the prostate before the op. (Currently the cancer is 'locally extensive', and has reached the edge of the prostate on one side). My surgeon tells me that waiting a few weeks won't make any difference, and says he only gave me the pills to ease my anxiety. 

I am wondering if I should take the pills, bearing in mind the side effects that come with them. My fear is simply that I don't want to come out the end of the treatment process knowing that I hadn't done everything in my power to optimize the outco me. I have 2 questions: 

Would taking the pills for only 4 weeks have any real impact on slowing down the cancer spread? And would the likely side effects (hot flushes, fatigue, mood swings and possible rashes) be any sort of a worthwhile trade-off against the need to slow the cancer cell spread?

If anyone has any views on this, or has been where I am now, I would love to hear from you. Thank you.

Chris

P.S. The pills in question are Bicalutamide film-coated tablets.

 

  • Hi Chris1951,

    Welcome to Cancer Chat. I can appreciate your concerns and it's a bit of a tough decision - although good to hear that the surgeon doesn't seem concerned either way about the waiting time.

    It may be difficult to get a clear answer to your question. You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of our nurses, as they will likely be better able to advise. If you'd like to do this, you can reach them on 0808 800 4040 (Monday-Friday, 9-5).

    Also, not everyone clicks on user profiles, so if you'd like others to know more background then it could be helpful to add this to the post itself.

    I hope things go well over the next few weeks - wishing you all the best,

    Ben
    Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Offline

    Hi prostate cancer feeds on the male hormone, your hormone tablets are to drop the body's natural hormone by replacing it with female hormone which your cancer cannot feed on hence it shrinks,. hope I've explained things clear, remember im a cancer patient not medically trained.

    I've been living with prostate cancer since feb 2016 , had different hormone therapy over the years.

    Mine has gone to lymph nodes spine ribs pelvis and a lung PSA was 1581 , Gleason 8 stage 4 T3B N1 M1B classed as palative care.

    Hope things go smoothly for you especially the operation.

    Billy.

    Ps i was born in 1951 as well.

  • Offline in reply to Billygoatt

    Thank you Ben. Much appreciated. I will do as you say and ring in tomorrow morning.

    Best regards.

    Chris

  • Offline in reply to Billygoatt

    Hi Billy,

    It was kind of you to take the trouble to write to me. Your views much appreciated. And thank you for telling me your story. I wish you all the best going forward.

    Regards,

    Chris

  • Offline in reply to Moderator Ben

    Thank you Ben. Much appreciated. I will do as you say and ring in tomorrow morning.

    Best regards.

    Chris

    P.S. Sorry for duplication, - I accidentally replied to Billy with a message intend for you....  :-)

  • Offline

    My stepdad had prostate cancer with a very high PSA. They too were unsure if it had broached the prostate. He immediately started on hormone tablets and took them for months if not years. He also had radiotherapy. What I can tell you is that this was in 2010 and he hasn't had any recurrence. He stopped taking the hormone tablets when eventually they started causing muscle aches etc. Tbh, what harm can it do to begin taking them? If you suffer side effects you can always stop them. Remember that the side effects they list are always worst case scenario. You may not have any or very minor ones x

  • Offline in reply to Anon.J

    Nice reply, thank you. And sensible advice. As a result of reading yours and other replies, and talking to various people, I've decided to take the tablets. It's only for four weeks, and who knows, it might just help, even though it's not for very long. At the very least it's made waiting for the operation a little less anxious  :-)  And very pleased for your stepdad.

    Regards,

    Chris

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