Some cancer treatments might mess with sex hormones, which can lead to a lot of problems. This can be very hard to live with, but the good news is that there are ways to deal with the adverse effects and treatments that can help you get through it.
What hormones affect sex?
Glands in the body make sex hormones, which are potent chemical messengers that travel through the blood. They are particularly crucial for sexual growth, getting pregnant, and overall health.
- Progesterone and oestrogen are hormones that women have.
- Testosterone is a hormone that men have.
When therapies like surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or hormone therapy modify these hormone levels, side effects can ensue. Scientists are still trying to figure out how immunotherapy and tailored therapies alter sex hormones.
Oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries)
The ovaries create the hormones progesterone and oestrogen. When you take them away, hormone levels drop.
Ovarian cancer
Women who have ovarian cancer may need to have one or both of their ovaries removed. If both are taken out before menopause, menopause happens rapidly, usually within days of the surgery.
Vulval or vaginal cancer
Sometimes the ovaries need to be removed as part of the treatment. Women who have already gone through menopause usually don’t experience any new symptoms related to hormones.
Breast cancer
For hormone-sensitive breast cancers, it’s vital to lower oestrogen levels. You can do this by removing the ovaries or giving them medicines that stop them from working for a short time.
Symptoms of menopause
Some symptoms that you are going through menopause are:
- Sweating at night and having hot flushes
- Being tired and not getting enough sleep
- Changes in mood, anxiety, or depression
- Brain fog (not being able to remember things or focus)
- Dryness, itching, or soreness in the vagina during intercourse
- Risk of osteoporosis (thinning of bones)
- Not wanting to have sex
Removing the testicles (orchidectomy)
The testes are the main source of testosterone. Taking away one or both can change hormone levels a lot.
- When someone has testicular cancer, physicians normally merely take away one testicle. The other one makes up for it. Testosterone replacement therapy is often needed if both are taken out.
- Some men have their testicles taken out to lower testosterone levels, although hormone-blocking medicines are more common.
Symptoms of low testosterone
Here are some symptoms that you might have low testosterone:
- Hot flashes
- Lack of energy and tiredness
- Changes in mood or feeling down
- Changes in weight and loss of muscle mass
- Having trouble gaining an erection
- Breasts that hurt or swell
- More likely to have osteoporosis
Chemotherapy and SEX Hormones
Impact on women
Chemotherapy can disrupt ovarian function, occasionally leading to early menopause. The risk is dependent on:
- There are numerous kinds and amounts of chemotherapy drugs.
- When you got treatment, how old were you?
Your periods may stop for a while, but if you’re near to the age when menopause happens naturally, they may not come back. Younger women may go through menopause sooner than they thought, which might make it harder for them to get pregnant. There may be ways to keep your fertility before you start therapy.
Impact on men
It’s not clear how chemotherapy and testosterone are related. Some men say they don’t want to have sex as much and are more exhausted, while others say nothing has changed. Studies reveal that up to 60% of men who seek treatment for cancer have less sexual function. This could be because their testosterone levels drop.
sex Hormones and Radiation Treatment
Radiotherapy to the pelvis can affect hormone-producing organs, including the ovaries, testes, prostate, and uterus. Radiation can hurt nearby tissues, which can lower hormone levels.
People usually use this form of treatment for:
- Cancer of the rectum
- Cancer of the anus
- Bladder cancer
- Cervical and uterine cancers
- Prostate cancer
Experts work hard to create treatments that decrease the risks.
Hormone Treatment
Hormone therapy is a significant treatment for various cancers, including:
- Prostate cancer
- Breast cancer (in both sexes)
- Womb cancer
One of two ways it operates is:
- Not letting the body generate the hormone, or
- Stopping the hormone from getting to cancer cells
This medication works, but it can create side symptoms that are similar to menopause or low testosterone.
Immunotherapy and Therapy that Targets Specific Cells
- Targeted therapy looks at changes in cancer cells that help them stay alive.
- Immunotherapy makes the immune system stronger, which helps the body fight cancer.
- Researchers are still trying to figure out exactly how they change the amounts of sex hormones.
How to deal with hormone-related symptoms
It’s reassuring to know that you’re not the only one who has mood swings, hot flashes, or reduced sexual function. Talk to your oncology team about the many treatments, lifestyle changes, and supportive care that might assist.
✨ It’s your turn: Have you or someone you care about encountered side effects from hormones while having cancer treatment? We’d love to hear from you. Please leave a remark below with a query or anything you want to share.