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Men who receive anti-hormonal treatment after withdrawal from their prostate are 80% more likely to suffer from depression than men who do not receive this treatment. This leads the researchers to suggest that patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy be monitored for detecting post-surgical depression. This one is presented at the congress of the European Association of Urology in Barcelona.
Physicians are increasingly aware that for many men the diagnosis and treatment of cancer lead to depression and that suicide rates increase disproportionately in people with cancer. ;urology. A group of Danish researchers has now shown that men who receive anti-hormonal treatment after radical prostatectomy have an increased tendency to depression.
"The anti-hormonal treatment aims to control the growth of tumor cells," said Dr. Anne Sofie Friberg, principal investigator of Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen. "Unfortunately, we found that it's also badociated with depression."
The researchers examined the medical records of 5,570 men from the Danish prostate cancer registry. They found that 773 of these men had been treated for depression after surgery. They found that men treated with antihormonal drugs were 1.8 times more likely to suffer from depression than men who did not receive the additional treatment. The researchers also checked whether radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy was badociated with depression, but these results were inconclusive.
Anne Sofie Friberg said:
"The treatment prevents the production of androgenic hormones, such as testosterone. Other studies have shown that a low testosterone content can affect the well-being of a man. possible that a limitation of testosterone production may have the same effect, especially after significant stress, as a treatment for cancer.
It is important to note that, compared to men without prostate cancer, patients treated with prostatectomy as a whole have an increased risk of depression. After surgery, erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence are common symptoms. In case of recurrence and hormonal treatment, these symptoms can worsen. In addition, body image damage and loss of libido are common. These therapeutic effects are likely to increase the risk of depression. In addition, low levels of testosterone can directly affect the centers of brain mood "
Up to 25% of men undergoing radical prostatectomy will relapse and may be offered hormone therapy. These men appear to have a higher risk of developing depression once hormone therapy is introduced. The reason could be a consequence of the failure of the surgery, directly caused by hormonal manipulation, or both. "
They note that the definition of depression – prescription of antidepressants or referral to a psychiatric ward – constitutes a possible limitation of the study (all would not have sought treatment and antidepressants are sometimes prescribed for other ailments). But the high numbers in the study mean that the results will likely be robust.
Teacher. Hendrik Van Poppel (University Hospitals of KULeuven, Belgium), Deputy Secretary General of the UAE for Education, said:
"This is a large study that shows that treatment of prostate cancer can spread to other problems. We must be aware of this potential. As urologists, we have the responsibility to treat the whole patient. That's why we advocate a multidisciplinary approach. to the treatment of prostate cancer and emphasizes the value of following evidence-based guidelines to try to ensure that the patient receives comprehensive care. "
Dr. Erik Briers MS PhD (patient member of the UAE Prostate Cancer Guidelines Committee) said:
"This study is very relevant from a patient's point of view, once again demonstrating the importance of holistic treatment of prostate cancer patients and, in this treatment, the importance of engaging psycho-professionals. -oncology and socio-psychology … stop, the consequences may appear very late ".
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Type of study: Not peer reviewed / observational study / human subjects
Neither Professor Van Poppel nor Erik Briers were involved in this research, they are independent comments
This work was funded by the Danish Cancer Society and the Danish Capital Fund and Region of Denmark.
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