This patient-friendly article is about chemotherapy drug, Cyproterone Acetate (Cyprostat) which is a steroidal anti-androgen a hormone treatment used for prostate cancer. It prevents testosterone attaching to the surface of cancer cells and without the testosterone the rate of growth of the cancer will slow or cease. It is often used to reduce the symptom flare associated with the use of LHRH analogues (eg Zoladex) and can also be used for long-term palliative treatment of prostate cancer, although there is then a risk of potential liver dysfunction.
Side effects can include: fatigue, low mood, breast tenderness and fullness, osteoporosis, shortness of breath, liver disorders, risk of thrombo-embolism, nausea, diarrhoea, reduced volume of ejaculation and decreased sperm count.
Go to: 10 ways to improve your chemotherapy success and reduce side-effects
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Go to: Return to the CANCERactive drug list