Hormone therapy hope for prostate cancer sufferers

0 - 0 • Published 17 Jun 2009 12:01 0 Comments

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A DOLLAR couple are hoping to raise awareness of the benefits of hormone therapy in the treatment of prostate cancer.

Bob and Margaret Bonthrone have seen at first hand the positive effects the treatment can bring in the six years since Bob (72) was diagnosed as having advanced prostate cancer which had already spread to his pelvis and lymph nodes.

In 2003 the couple feared the worst when it was discovered that Bob had the condition.

He explained, 'When I was first diagnosed I thought I would have to make my final arrangements and didn"t have long but the treatment has given me years on my life.

'Even with prostate cancer the treatment has allowed me to live a normal life for six years. I"ve been able to play golf three times a week, go swimming and out for a drink.'

Prostate cancer is amongst the most common killers of men in the United Kingdom.

The illness claimed the life of comedian Bob Monkhouse and other famous people affected by it include Nelson Mandela and Denis Law.

With hormone therapy, an injection once every 12 weeks is the only treatment required but the side effects do include hot flushes, swelling of breasts, developing a 'pot belly" and loss of libido.

Bob said, 'I got hot flushes early on but they couldn"t tell me how long it would last.

'The side affects aren"t pleasant but they don"t last forever - mine went after three or four years.'

The injections stop the body producing the male hormone testosterone, which prostate cancer feeds on. The cancer"s growth is effectively suppressed for the course of the treatment.

'I had no choice,' said Bob. 'I couldn"t have an operation to remove it but these injections gave me years of a normal lifestyle.

'We used to forget about the cancer and the only time I thought about it was when I had to go for my injection.

'It does have a limited life and it will give up on you after a while and it began to stop working for me towards the end of last year.'

Margaret said, 'The therapy could work for six weeks, six months or six years but it will give you time and stop the cancer in its tracks.

'It has done that for nearly six years - we know people who have been taking the injections for 11 years - and Bob is probably better off now than he was when he was diagnosed.'

Most men with early prostate cancer have no symptoms at all but they can include needing to urinate more often, a feeling that your bladder has not emptied properly, having difficulty or pain passing urine or a new pain in the lower back, hips or pelvis.

The risk of prostate cancer increases with age and are also higher if there is a family history of the illness.

Other factors linked to the cancer include eating a high amount of saturated animal fats and red meat. African Caribbean men are three times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than white men.

Bob said, 'I had next to no symptoms and it was purely by an off hand remark to my GP that she gave me a test.

'The testing and treatment was done really quickly and the care I have received has been wonderful. Back when this was discovered we didn"t think we would reach this month - our Golden Wedding Anniversary - so the hormone therapy has been excellent.'

Both Bob and Margaret are trained to give awareness presentations and talks on treatment and living with prostate cancer.

They have given displays to a variety of organisations including health centres, local groups and major businesses.

For further details on prostate cancer or to arrange a talk from the couple contact 0141 3140 050 or email scotland@prostate-cancer.org.uk

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