Study Finds Promising Relief for Hot Flashes in Men with Prostate Cancer

Men with prostate cancer who get hormone therapy experience hot flashes, where they experience intense and sudden heat and sweating. It can feel like a panic attack for some people before the heat overcomes their bodies. This can disrupt daily life, work, and social activities.

But there’s good news. A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) found an effective treatment when compared to a placebo. Researchers enrolled 88 men from 15 research cancer centers who had undergone androgen-deprivation therapy, which lowers hormones like testosterone which fuels cancer growth. The trial accepted men who had at least 28 hot flashes per week. The clinical trial participants took oxybutynin for six weeks, which is traditionally prescribed to treat an overactive bladder and incontinence.

The trial was a success, and the men who took oxybutynin had much fewer hot flashes, although they didn’t disappear altogether.

Prostate Cancer Risk Increases with Age

Prostate cancer tends to affect older men, age 67 and up, however there’s an increase in the number of younger men in their 40s and 50s. In these younger men, the disease tends to be more aggressive and harder to treat. A clinical trial is currently enrolling men to compare two types of radiation therapy for men with recurrent prostate cancer. This targeted therapy attacks cancer cells directly with the aim of protecting the surrounding healthy tissue.

A blood test can tell your healthcare provider whether you are at risk for prostate cancer by measuring the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood, according to the Mayo Clinic. Experts recommend getting screened starting around age 50, or younger if you have a direct family member (brother or father) who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Early diagnosis offers the best chance for successful treatment.