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Prostate Cancer: Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of any one or combination of cancer-killing drugs. It is prescribed in cases of recurrent or advanced prostate cancer that has not responded to hormone treatment, but it is not used to treat early stage disease.
Chemotherapy is given in cycles of treatment followed by a recovery period. The entire treatment generally lasts three to six months, depending on the type of chemotherapy medications given.
How Is Chemotherapy Given?
Generally, chemotherapy drugs are given intravenously (directly into the vein) or rarely, by mouth. Once the drugs enter the bloodstream, they travel to all parts of the body to reach cancer cells that may have spread beyond the prostate.
When Is Chemotherapy Given?
Chemotherapy may be ordered for advanced prostate cancer that has not responded to hormone treatment. It may also be given for metastatic disease (disease that has spread). Metastatic disease may be present at diagnosis or, in some cases, the cancer can return in a distant location months or years after initial treatment.
Chemotherapy is given to cause the cancer to shrink and, hopefully, disappear. Even if the cancer does not disappear, symptoms may be relieved.
What Are the Side Effects?
Because chemotherapy acts to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells, it also kills other rapidly dividing healthy cells in the bodies, such as the membranes lining the mouth, the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, hair follicles, and bone marrow. As a result, the side effects of chemotherapy relate to these areas of damaged cells. The good news is that the damaged non-cancerous cells will be replaced with healthy cells, so the side effects are only temporary.
The specific side effects you have depends on the type and amount of medicines you are given and how long you are taking them. The most common, temporary side effects of chemotherapy include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Hair loss
- Mouth sores
- Diarrhea
- Infertility (a potential permanent side effect of chemotherapy)
Other side effects associated with chemotherapy's effects on bone marrow include an increased risk of infection (due to low white blood cell counts), bleeding or bruising from minor injuries (due to low blood platelet counts), and anemia-related fatigue (due to low red blood cell counts).
Some medications help control certain side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, or diarrhea. Although it may take some time, side effects related to chemotherapy will go away when the treatments stop.
Ask your doctor for about specific side effects you can expect from your chemotherapy medicines. Also discuss troubling or unmanageable side effects with your doctor.
Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Urological
Institute.
WebMD Medical Reference provided in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic
Prostate Cancer Guide
Indication
Uroxatral® (alfuzosin HCl 10 mg extended-release tablets) is an alpha1-blocker for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of BPH.
Important Safety Information
Do not take UROXATRAL if you have liver problems or if you are taking antifungal drugs like ketoconazole or itraconazole, or HIV drugs like ritonavir.
UROXATRAL can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, especially when starting treatment. This may lead to fainting, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do any dangerous activity until you know how UROXATRAL will affect you. This is especially important if you already have a problem with low blood pressure or take medicines to treat high blood pressure. There may be an increased risk of low blood pressure and fainting when taking UROXATRAL in combination with blood pressure medication or nitrates, or erectile dysfunction medication.
If considering cataract surgery (clouding of the eyes), tell your eye surgeon that you are currently taking UROXATRAL or have previously been treated with an alpha-blocker.
Before taking UROXATRAL, tell your doctor if you have kidney problems.
Also, tell your doctor if you or any family member(s) have or take medications for a rare heart condition known as congenital prolongation of the QT interval.
BPH and prostate cancer can cause the same symptoms. However, UROXATRAL is not a treatment for prostate cancer.
The most common side effects with UROXATRAL are dizziness, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, and tiredness.
Please see UROXATRAL full prescribing information.
