The Prostate
The prostate is a male sex gland that adds fluid and nutrients to the sperm. Along with other male sex glands, it makes, stores, and secretes the seminal fluid. It is a firm, walnut-sized gland below the bladder and in front of the rectum.6 For the prostate to function, it needs androgens (male hormones), which are responsible for the sex characteristics in men. The main hormone is testosterone, mainly produced by the testicles.
The tube (urethra) carrying urine runs through the prostate. The urethra works by:
- Transporting urine from the bladder during urination
- Carrying the semen during ejaculation
Male Anatomy17
The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 192,000 new cases of prostate cancer in the U.S. in 2009.2
Indication
Trelstar® is indicated for the palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer.
Important Safety Information
After your first injection of Trelstar®, you might feel a temporary increase in your cancer symptoms, such as pain in your bones, nerve disorder, blood in your urine, blockage in the canals leaving your bladder, or pressure in the spinal cord that may lead to weakness or paralysis with or without fatal complications. This is because the amount of testosterone in your bloodstream actually goes up for a short period after the injection. If your symptoms increase later than the first week or two following an injection, tell your doctor. The most common side effects that patients taking Trelstar® have are actually the effect of lowering testosterone levels. The most common effect of lowering testosterone is hot flushes or flashes. These are like the hot flashes women have around the time of menopause. Other side effects include bone pain, impotence (sexual side effect), tissue breakdown in the testicles, headache, leg pain, and swelling in the legs. Women who are or may become pregnant and those who are allergic to this type of drug should not take Trelstar®. A severe potentially fatal form of shock, hyper allergic response, and allergic swelling related to Trelstar® have been reported. For more information on these and other side effects, please talk to your doctor.
