When androgen deprivation therapy, a treatment that reduces male hormones like testosterone to slow cancer growth. Also known as hormone therapy for prostate cancer, it's one of the most common ways to manage advanced prostate cancer. This isn’t about boosting strength or muscle—it’s about starving cancer cells of the fuel they need to grow. Testosterone and other androgens feed certain prostate cancers, so lowering them can shrink tumors or keep them from spreading. It’s not a cure, but for many, it buys time, reduces symptoms, and improves quality of life.
This therapy doesn’t work the same for everyone. Some patients get injections that stop the testicles from making testosterone, while others take pills called anti-androgens, drugs that block testosterone from reaching cancer cells. Sometimes both are used together. The goal is simple: bring testosterone levels down to near zero. But that drop comes with side effects—hot flashes, loss of libido, fatigue, weight gain, and even bone thinning. These aren’t minor inconveniences; they’re real changes to daily life. That’s why many patients also look at hormone therapy, a broader category that includes androgen deprivation and other hormone-based treatments to balance cancer control with comfort.
Androgen deprivation therapy often shows up in the same conversations as other treatments—like radiation, surgery, or newer drugs targeting cancer genetics. It’s rarely used alone in advanced cases. Instead, it’s layered with other options to get the best results. You’ll see this pattern in the posts below: how medications like spironolactone can affect hormone levels, how drug interactions can make side effects worse, and how managing long-term hormone changes requires smart, personalized care. These aren’t random articles—they’re pieces of the same puzzle. Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or just trying to understand what this treatment really means, what follows is a collection of clear, practical guides that connect the dots between hormones, cancer, and everyday health.
Abiraterone is a life-extending hormone therapy for advanced prostate cancer that blocks androgen production. Used with prednisone, it improves survival and quality of life for men with castration-resistant disease.
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