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- Adrenal (Suprarenal) Glands
- Two glands, each located above a kidney.
- Androgen
- Male hormones, including testosterone.
- Antiandrogens
- Drugs that block the body's ability to use androgens.
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- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
- Enlargement of the prostate. BPH is not cancer, but it can cause some of the same symptoms.
- Biopsy
- Process of removing tissue for diagnostic examination.
- Brachytherapy
- Internal radiation treatment given by placing radioactive material directly into the tumor or close to it. Also called interstitial radiation therapy or seed implantation.
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- Chemotherapy
- Treatment with drugs to destroy cancer cells.
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- Digital Rectal Examination (DRE)
- The doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum to feel for anything not normal. Some tumors of the rectum and prostate gland can be felt during a DRE.
- Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
- A hormone made from testosterone that is responsible for stimulating many adult male body characteristics, including the growth of the prostate.
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- External beam radiation
- Radiation that is focused from a source outside the body on the area affected by the cancer.
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- Gleason score
- A method of classifying prostate cancer cells on a scale of 2 to 10. The higher the Gleason score (also called the Gleason sum), the faster the cancer is likely to grow.
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- Hormone
- A chemical substance the body produces to regulate the growth and functioning of certain cells and organs.
- Hormonal Therapy
- Treatment with drugs to interfere with hormone production or hormone action, or the surgical removal of hormone-producing glands.
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- Impotence
- Inability to achieve an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse.
- Incontinence (urinary)
- Loss of urinary control.
- Internal Radiation Therapy
- The use of tiny radioactive seeds — or implants — placed directly into or next to the prostate gland to kill cancerous cells. This is also known as interstitial implantation or brachytherapy.
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- LH-RH
- Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone, a hormone that is produced by the hypothalamus, a tiny gland in the brain.
- LH-RH agonists
- Synthetically made hormones, chemically similar to natural luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH). With continuous use, they block the production of the male hormone testosterone by the testicles and are sometimes used to treat symptoms of advanced prostate cancer.
- Lymph Nodes
- Small, bean-shaped glands located throughout the body that collect and transport lymph, a fluid that carries cells that can help fight infection and disease. Lymph nodes can also trap cancer cells.
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- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
- A procedure in which a magnet linked to a computer is used to create detailed pictures of areas inside the body.
- Malignant
- A cancerous tumor.
- Metastasis
- The spread of cancer cells to distant areas of the body by way of the lymph system or bloodstream.
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- Oncologist
- A doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer.
- Orchiectomy
- Surgery to remove the testicles; castration.
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- Palliative Treatment
- Treatment to alleviate symptoms without curing the disease.
- Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)
- A protein produced by cells of the prostate gland. PSA levels are used to help identify disorders of the prostate.
- Prostatitis
- Inflammation of the prostate.
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- Radiation Therapy
- The use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. The rays can be either beamed from a machine (external) or emitted by radioactive seeds implanted in the tumor (internal).
- Radical Prostatectomy
- Surgery to remove the entire prostate gland along with nearby tissues such as the seminal vesicles.
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- Scrotum
- The external sac or pouch containing the testes.
- Semen
- The fluid, containing sperm, which comes out of the penis during ejaculation.
- Staging
- Determination of whether cancer has spread beyond its original site to other parts of the body.
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- Testosterone
- A male sex hormone produced primarily by the testes that is important in male physical and sexual function and development.
- Transrectal Ultrasound (TRUS)
- The use of sound waves to image the prostate. The sound waves are emitted by an instrument inserted into the rectum. As the waves bounce off the prostate, they create a pattern that is converted by a computer into a picture. TRUS is used to detect abnormal prostate growth and to guide a biopsy of the abnormal prostate area.
- Tumor
- An abnormal growth of tissue. Tumors can be either benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
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- Ultrasound (Ultrasonography)
- An imaging technique that uses sound waves to produce pictures (sonograms) of body tissues.
- Urethra (male)
- The tube leading from the bladder to the tip of the penis. It allows the discharge of urine from the bladder and semen during ejaculation.
- Urologist
- A doctor who specializes in disorders of the male and female urinary system and the male reproductive system.
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Important Safety and Other Information
Lupron Depot is indicated for the palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer. The most common side effect associated with Lupron Depot is hot flashes. Like other treatment options, LH-RH agonists may cause impotence. Symptoms may worsen over the first few weeks of treatment. Periodic monitoring of PSA and serum testosterone levels is recommended. Lupron Depot–4 Month 30mg, –3 Month 22.5mg and 7.5mg dosage forms are not indicated for use in women. For further information about Lupron Depot, please see the complete prescribing information and the patient product information.
