Table of Contents

Chapter 6: Using Hormone Therapy

c. Using Hormone Therapy

One of the downsides of having so many different types of drugs for use in a particular disease or disorder is figuring out what to use when. With hormone therapy, it’s even more complicated, because each class of drugs works in a very different way, and, unfortunately, our understanding of the mechanisms behind these drugs remains poor.

When deciding on exactly which hormone therapy to use,discuss with your doctor the potential benefits and side effects of each drug, and, most importantly, which options are available to you in case your first attempt doesn't completely work, work for long enough, or stops working. It’s no reflection on you or on your disease if the drug that you choose doesn’t keep your PSA down as you had hoped. People respond to the drugs in different ways; the challenge is finding the drug, or combination of drugs, that’s right for you.