Prostate is a small part within the male reproductive system. Beside penis and testicles, the prostate is important for a man. Prostate is a small gland with a size of walnut that can be found between the base of the e=penis and rectum, deep inside the groin and surrounding the urethra (tube connected to the bladder). Prostate supplies seminal fluid mixed with sperm for testes that is important for sperm viability and motility. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men with Casodex 50 mg being the common drug used to treat this condition.
Prostate cancer is a common cancer in men, next to skin and lung cancers. It is estimated that 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in life. It is usually diagnosed in men aged 65 and above. Symptoms of prostate cancer may or may not be experienced by a person. Common symptoms include difficulty passing urine, feeling discomfort when passing urine, presence of blood in urine or semen, increased urination frequency especially at night time, having trouble completely emptying the bladder, unintentional weight loss and pain in bones especially at the back, hips or pelvis (waist) area. Due to the nature of the symptoms that may resemble other medical conditions, it is best for a patient to get checked by a doctor if any of the above symptoms is experienced. This helps to detect prostate cancer in an early stage and receive early medical care.
Casodex is indeed a common drug used to treat prostate cancer. Casodex contains bicalutamide as its active ingredients. Bicalutamide works by blocking testosterone hormone. This hormone plays a vital role in the growth of prostate cancer cells. Casodex is known to belong to a drug type of anti-androgen or androgen receptor inhibitor. This means that it is used as hormone therapy. Casodex is usually combined with other hormone therapy such as luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analog in managing prostate cancer. Casodex is usually given around a month before combining with the LHRH analog.
Prostate cancer surprisingly is a slow-growing type of cancer which means there are more time and chance for men to get treatment early on. You may be wondering how long you should take Casodex for prostate cancer given the slow-growing nature of the disease itself. Casodex is usually taken for approximately 3 years. However, it is worth noting that the exact duration to take Casodex depends on the cancer stage, response towards therapies provided, other therapies used to treat cancer and the possible side effects. The right answer for how long you should be taking Casodex will be determined by your doctor. One thing for sure, Casodex is a medicine that is typically taken for a long period of time.
Taking this medicine for a long period of time might be difficult for some people. Hence, it is best for patients to take the medicine at the same time of the day to remember taking it regularly. The recommended dose is one tablet once a day. Patients can take this medicine in the morning or evening, as long as it is taken regularly at the same time of the day. This helps to maximise the drug’s effectiveness. It is vital for patients to take this medicine as instructed by doctors.
Casodex, just as with any other medicine, does have potential side effects. Common side effects include abdominal pain, presence of blood in urine, hot flush, dizziness, breast tenderness and swelling of limbs such as hands, ankles or feet. Serious side effects are rare but breathing difficulty should be a sign patients should get to the emergency room immediately. Remember, doctors will always prescribe medicine that provides benefits that outweigh the side effects. It can be understandable that taking medicine for a long time can cause worries such as the possibility of toxicity or damage to the organs. Fret not, doctors will always run blood tests to make sure this does not occur. Hence, patients should always attend appointments and follow-up with their doctor. If a patient has other medical conditions such as hypertension or infection and is taking other medicine, they should let their doctor know. This is necessary to avoid possible drug interaction or high chance for side effects that could worsen the current prostate cancer condition.
In essence, Casodex is used to treat prostate cancer and needs to be taken for a long period of time. Casodex is usually seen to be prescribed for advanced prostate cancer. Patients need to take this medicine exactly as told by their doctor. Any enquiries or doubt regarding this medicine or treatment plan should always be addressed to the respective healthcare provider. Never stop taking this medicine abruptly because this may lead to antiandrogen withdrawal syndrome which may worsen prostate cancer or cause the cancer to progress rapidly than before. Thus, if patients do feel side effects from taking this medicine, they should notify their doctor and not intentionally stop taking the medicine cold turkey.
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