Hormone therapy is usually given to men with localized prostate cancer who:

• Are not candidates for radiotherapy or surgery
• Are undergoing radiotherapy at the time
• Have cancer that grows while in the watchful-waiting period.

This therapy is given to help reduce the size of the tumor. When given before radiotherapy it is called neoadjuvant treatment, while if comes after treatment it is called adjuvant therapy.

Hormone therapy can be given via intramuscular injection or orally.

The aim is to reduce the production of androgens and block these cells from entering the cancer cells.

Side effects of hormone therapy:

• Erection problems
• Bone loss (osteoporosis)
• Hormonal effects