Metastatic prostate cancer

Prostate cancer depends, in part, on the male hormone testosterone to grow and spread. Tablets or injections that reduce the amount of testosterone in your body can slow down or stop the growth of cancer cells. 

Hormone therapy is the main treatment for metastatic prostate cancer. 

Read more about hormone therapy for metastatic prostate cancer.

Chemotherapy is a treatment using drugs to help kill cancer cells that have travelled to other parts of your body. It can slow the growth of the cancer and control symptoms, such as pain. Chemotherapy may be given directly into a vein as an injection or through an intravenous infusion (drip).

What kinds of drugs are used?

Some examples of chemotherapy used for prostate cancer are docetaxel (Taxotere®) and cabazitaxel (Jevtana®). You may be given a steroid with your chemotherapy to reduce the side-effects of treatment.

How often will I have chemotherapy? 

The chemotherapy drugs are often given in cycles, such as once every 2 or 3 weeks, with a rest period between treatments. The rest period allows your body to recover from the effects of the drugs. The number of cycles you receive will depend on how well the cancer is responding to treatment.

Read more about chemotherapy.

Radiotherapy is a treatment that uses radioactivity to control cancer and relieve symptoms such as pain. 

Two types of radiotherapy can be used for metastatic prostate cancer: 

• External radiotherapy
  High-energy rays are aimed at the cancer.
• Radioactive injections
  Radioactive liquid injections to help with prostate cancer that has spread to the bones.

Read more about radiotherapy for metastatic prostate cancer.

You might have steroids along with another treatment or on their own. Steroids can help to reduce the amount of testosterone made in your adrenal glands or they may help to reduce the side-effects of certain drug treatments.

Side-effects from steroids include an increased appetite and mood changes. They can also cause bone thinning, a higher risk of diabetes, fluid retention, and other body changes. Your doctor will check for these side-effects regularly.

Read more about steroids.

Bone-strengthening drugs can help to reduce pain from cancer that has spread to the bone and may slow the growth of cancer in the bone. They can also help to prevent further bone loss and strengthen the bone to reduce the risk of bone damage, like fractures.

You may be given these drugs even if you don’t have any symptoms, to protect your bones. The types of drugs commonly used for patients with prostate cancer are bisphosphonates (for example, zoledronic acid (Zometa®) and monoclonal antibodies (for example, denosumab (Xgeva®)). Bisphosphonates can also reduce high levels of calcium in your blood.

Read more about bone-strengthening drugs. 

Not every man wants treatment for erectile problems. Some men accept the changes in their body and don't feel the need to get treatment. For other men, finding a way to treat their erectile dysfunction is very important. There is no right or wrong way to react – just the way that feels right for you.

The treatment options for erectile dysfunction include tablets, pellets that go into the eye of your penis, injections and vacuum pumps. 

We have more information on these and other treatments for sexual side-effects, including erectile dysfunction in our sexual side-effects page.

• Give yourself time to recover, and don’t rush into sex if you don’t feel ready. 
• It may help to talk openly to your partner or a counsellor about how you’re feeling. 
• Talk to your specialist nurse if you’re worried about your sex life or sexual side-effects. Try not to feel embarrassed. They will be happy to talk to you and give you advice. You can also talk to one of our cancer nurses in confidence. Call Freephone 1800 200 700, email suuportline@irishcancer.ie or visit a Daffodil Centre.