Enzalutamide

April 01, 2021

Enzalutamide (Xtandi

) is a type of hormone therapy for men with prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (advanced prostate cancer).

It is usually only offered to men whose prostate cancer has stopped responding to other types of hormone therapy. But during the coronavirus outbreak, you may be offered enzalutamide as a first treatment for advanced prostate cancer.

Enzalutamide works by blocking the effect of the hormone testosterone on prostate cancer cells. Without testosterone, the prostate cancer cells can`t grow, even if they have spread to other parts of the body.

Enzalutamide has been shown to help some men live longer. It can also help to treat or delay symptoms, such as pain and bone problems.

Who can have enzalutamide?
Enzalutamide is a treatment for advanced prostate cancer. It is most commonly offered to men whose cancer has stopped responding to other types of hormone therapy. You may hear this called hormone-relapsed or castrate-resistant prostate cancer. You can have enzalutamide before or after chemotherapy.

Your hospital doctor may offer you enzalutamide if you can`t have chemotherapy, or you don`t want to have it yet. Enzalutamide may be suitable if your cancer isn`t causing any symptoms or only mild symptoms.

You may be offered enzalutamide if you`ve had a chemotherapy drug called docetaxel and your cancer has stopped responding to it.

If you`ve already had a type of hormone therapy called abiraterone, enzalutamide probably won`t be an option. This is because research suggests that men who have already had one of these drugs don`t respond so well to the other drug. However, if you get severe side effects from abiraterone, you may be able to try enzalutamide.

If you`re having trouble getting enzalutamide, even though your doctor thinks it is suitable for you, please let us know.

Earlier enzalutamide
There is evidence that some men may benefit from having enzalutamide at an earlier stage, when they are first diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. You may hear this called hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, as the cancer is likely to respond to standard hormone therapy.

Men who have just been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer are usually offered a chemotherapy drug called docetaxel along with standard hormone therapy. But during the current coronavirus outbreak, you may be offered enzalutamide instead of chemotherapy. This is because chemotherapy can increase your risk from catching infections, including coronavirus. Chemotherapy also involves regular hospital appointments, which could put you at risk of catching coronavirus during those hospital visits.

Enzalutamide doesn`t affect your immune system as much as chemotherapy. It also doesn`t involve regular hospital visits. For this reason, enzalutamide may be safer for you than chemotherapy until the risk from coronavirus in the UK has reduced.

Enzalutamide is currently an option for men in England and Northern Ireland who`ve just been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. If you live in Scotland or Wales, you`ll probably be offered a different type of hormone therapy called abiraterone instead. Abiraterone is also available for men in England and Northern Ireland who get severe side effects from enzalutamide.

Your doctor will talk to you about your treatment options. You may also find it helpful to read our information about prostate cancer and coronavirus, or speak to our Specialist Nurses.

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Author:

Ms. Kelly

E-mail:

li_ye@inyelchem.com

Phone/WhatsApp:

+8618660163165

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