What is hormone-sensitive prostate cancer?
A Q&A with Dr. Jason Hafron, Chief Medical Officer and Medical Director of Clinical Research at Michigan Institute of Urology
Q: What is hormone-sensitive prostate cancer?
A: Hormone-sensitive prostate cancer is a type of prostate cancer that uses male hormones to grow and survive. It represents the first stage of advanced prostate cancer. Prostate cancers that have never been treated before are hormone-sensitive, and initial therapies typically utilize hormone-based treatments.
Q: What types of treatments would you undergo for hormone-sensitive prostate cancer?
A: Due to the extensive research conducted on prostate cancer over the past decade, there has been a significant revolution in available therapies. Androgen deprivation therapy helps reduce male hormones in the body. In addition to decreasing male hormone production, there are also oral medications men can take to prevent androgen receptors in prostate cancer cells from binding with androgens and fueling tumor growth. While advanced prostate cancer is not curable, it is highly treatable with effective medications that help men maintain a very high quality of life.
Q: What are the potential side effects of hormone-sensitive prostate cancer treatments?
A: Some side effects include fatigue, hot flashes, and possible weight gain.
Q: What happens if cancer is not hormone sensitive?
A: Cancers that have already been treated with hormones may stop responding to the treatment. They are now considered hormone-resistant. There are several other therapies for advanced prostate cancer that no longer respond to hormones therapies.
Q: Why are some prostate cancers more aggressive than others?
A: Prostate cancer is generally a slow-growing tumor; however, a significant number of men still present with aggressive tumors. The reasons for this are still unknown. That’s why it’s important to see urologists regularly. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the US.
Q: Why does cancer spread to other areas of the body?
A: Spread is based on the biology of the tumor. Some tumors are more likely to spread. Typically, if prostate cancer is caught early, we can prevent it from spreading.
Learn more about the medical advancements in treating prostate cancer on MIU’s website. For prostate cancer survivors and their families, we encourage you to join our Prostate Cancer Support Group, which meets on the second Wednesday of each month. No registration is needed. Meet other survivors and get your questions answered.
