Study: Prostate Cancer Medications Link To Depression

Some individuals are plagued with a dreaded disease like prostate cancer. As they seek for medication, another concern arises the side effects of the treatment. According to a new study, prostate cancer medications are linked to depression.

Prostate Cancer Statistics

According to Cancer.org, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, following skin cancer. In fact, one in seven men is diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. This illness usually develops among older men. About six in 10 are diagnosed with prostate cancer in men 65 years and older. Prostate cancer is rare before one reaches 40. Average age at the time of diagnosis is 66.

The American Cancer Society estimated that there will be about 180,890 new cases of prostate cancer in the U.S. this year and the casualty from this illness will reach 26, 120. Although prostate cancer can be fatal, the condition can be treated successfully. In fact, there are over two million prostate cancer survivors in the U.S.

Prostate Cancer Medications Is Linked To Depression

While it's good news that there's a high rate of prostate cancer survivor, it does not guarantee a perfect health. A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncoloy found a link between depression and prostate cancer patients taking androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), Mirror reported. The study learned that ADT as prostate cancer treatment can double the patient's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease as well.

"We know patients on hormone therapy often experience decreased sexual function, weight gain and have less energy - many factors that could lead to depression," Dr. Paul Nguyen said. He noted that the longer the men were on hormone therapy the higher their risk of depression.

According to NewsMax, of men treated with ADT for six months or less, six percent developed depression within three years of cancer diagnosis. Meanwhile, this rate rose to eight percent among men on hormone therapy for at least a year.

Per the report, hormone therapy is an option for treating prostate tumors because testosterone can feed the growth of cancer. In fact, at one time, hormone therapy has become an automatic option. Nguyen is warning patients that the side effects could outweigh the benefit.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mayer Fishman, a medical oncologist who also studied the side effects of hormone therapy for prostate cancer found the same link. However, he remains positive with hormone therapy for prostate cancer."Seven percent of men on hormone therapy became depressed," he said. "Put another way, 93 percent did not." Fishman added that depression is treatable

What do you think, should prostate cancer patients continue with hormone therapy? Is the depression risk more alarming than the fatality of prostate cancer? Share your thoughts below?