Are fatigue and mood swings common with hormone therapy?

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

Cancer is the result of abnormal cell growth that disrupts the body's normal function. Your father's prostate cancer occurs when abnormal cells form and grow in the prostate gland. Not all abnormal growths are cancerous (malignant); some are benign (non-cancerous).

Benign growths, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), are not life-threatening and do not spread to nearby tissues or other parts of the body. They can often be removed and may not grow back.

In your father's cases cancerous growths, like prostate cancer, can spread (metastasize) to nearby organs and tissues, such as the bladder or rectum, and even to other parts of the body. If the abnormal growth is removed, it may still grow back. Prostate cancer (a type of cancer that begins in the prostate gland, which produces seminal fluid) can be life-threatening if it spreads far beyond the prostate (metastatic disease).

Treatment:

1. Active surveillance is recommended for small, slow-growing cancers. Your father's doctor will monitor the cancer through regular tests, such as a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test, a biopsy (a procedure where a small tissue sample is taken for testing to diagnose conditions like cancer), and possibly an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). This approach helps avoid the side effects of urinary, sexual, and bowel problems. Some men never need further treatment. If the PSA rises and a biopsy shows cancer growth, more aggressive treatment options, like surgery or radiation, will be discussed.

2. Watchful waiting involves monitoring of your father's cancer without active treatment, and it does not include routine tests like PSA checks or biopsies. The risk is that the cancer may grow or spread between follow-up visits. It's typically used for men with early-stage prostate cancer who are older or have other health issues, making surgery or radiation difficult.

3. Surgery (radical prostatectomy) involves removing the prostate, seminal vesicles, and nearby tissue, often including the pelvic lymph nodes. Radiation therapy is another treatment option. Both treatments have similar success rates for removing cancer, and you can discuss which is best with your doctor.

4. Surgery complications: Like any surgery, radical prostatectomy carries risks, including intra-operative complications and early and late postoperative issues, as does radiation therapy.

Managing symptoms:

For symptoms like fatigue, hot flashes, and irritability, I recommend the following:

1. Cholecalciferol 2000 IU, one tablet weekly for six months.

2. Calpro-D (calcium and vitamin D), one tablet at night for two months.

I encourage you to follow the treatment plan outlined by your doctor. They will conduct regular follow-ups, and if the tumor shows signs of progression, they will intervene promptly.

I hope this helps.

Kindly revert so I can assist you further.

Thank you.