On July 10, 2024, PHEN held a Managing Survivorship Meeting and Webinar where Dr. Alicia Morgans, Medical Director of the Survivorship Program at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, discussed Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT). She explained how ADT is a type of hormonal therapy that works by suppressing testosterone. Testosterone feeds or fuels prostate cancer cell growth. Lowering testosterone levels will force the cancer cells to die or go into hibernation, said Dr. Morgans.
At that point, prostate cancer becomes more vulnerable to radiation treatment, which many patients pursue. She also stated that surgical removal of part of the testes is another treatment option for prostate cancer patients. Along with lowering testosterone, ADT also reduces estrogen levels.
Dr. Morgans outlined the side effects of ADT including greater cardiovascular disease risk, bone fractures, and depression. However, there are ways to overcome these side effects, such as consuming a plant-based diet, pursuing exercise and weight-bearing resistance training, and meeting with a therapist or a support group.
“Hot flashes are due to low estrogen levels. Just like women going through menopause who experience hot flashes when their estrogen levels drop, men on ADT experience similar symptoms.”
“Treatments [for hot flashes] include estrogen patches, wearable devices, and medications like oxybutynin.”
#AndrogenDeprivationTherapy #ADT #ProstateCancer #ProstateCancerAwareness #DanaFarber #ProstateCancerSurvivors #RadiationTherapy #Radiation #Testosterone #Estrogen #SideEffects #Depression #CardiovascularDisease
Questions and Answers
ADTs are the classic medicines that turn off testosterone production in the testes. Enzalutamide is a hormonal therapy but not technically ADT. It blocks testosterone from signaling the cancer cells, but it doesn’t turn off testosterone production. If you’re on ADT and Enzalutamide, you may just want to say you’re on Enzalutamide for simplicity.
Hot flashes are due to low estrogen levels. Just like women going through menopause who experience hot flashes when their estrogen levels drop, men on ADT experience similar symptoms.
Treatments for hot flashes include estrogen patches, wearable devices, and medications like oxybutynin.
ADTs are the classic medicines that turn off testosterone production in the testes. Enzalutamide is a hormonal therapy but not technically ADT. It blocks testosterone from signaling the cancer cells, but it doesn’t turn off testosterone production.
A flare occurs with GnRH agonists [medications that block testosterone production], where testosterone levels temporarily increase before decreasing. This isn’t a cancer flare but a testosterone flare. We usually use medications like Bicalutamide to block this initial surge of testosterone levels.
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