Hormone therapy: pros & cons

Advantages

• Excellent means of dealing with complications and pain of metastatic cancer
  
  
• May decrease complications in patients with extensive prostate cancer
  
  
• Modest side effects
  
  
• May prolong survival of patients with extensive prostate cancer
  
  
• Easily administered (surgery/drugs)

Disadvantages

• Not curative
  
  
• Potential side effects:
  - Loss of libido, potency
  - Loss of muscle & bone strength
  - Flushing, breast swelling & anemia
  
  
• Only works for a limited time that is variable
  
  
• 1 - 3 month recovery period

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