Palliative
Therapy
When
other treatments are no longer effective in slowing down your
prostate cancer you may develop pain elsewhere. For example, if
the cancer has spread to your bones you might start to experience
bone pain. 'Palliative' therapy does not stop the growth of the
cancer, but aims to reduce the pain caused by it.
The
following are all palliative therapies:
•
radiotherapy, which is very effective in reducing prostate cancer
pain
•
tablets containing steroid drugs: these can be effective but can
cause stomach ulcers and fluid retention. Other medication can
reduce these adverse side-effects
•
chemotherapy: this involves taking drugs which poison cancer cells.
Though seldom used for prostate cancer, it may be beneficial in
some cases. Although chemotherapy can make you feel very sick
there are effective drugs to deal with this adverse side-effect.
