The majority of patients with prostate cancer tend to be elderly. Chemotherapy drugs may be toxic and their toxicity is greater in older as compared with younger patients. Younger patients are far more resistant to the side-effects of chemotherapy treatment than the elderly. For this reason, chemotherapy was not really given to patients with prostate cancer in the 1970s and 1980s. When it was, the side-effects were such that the treatment was often worse than the disease itself.
In the 1980s, oncology practice started to change, with an emphasis upon the refinement of treatment so that the benefits remained whilst the side-effects were lessened. The most useful drug that became available at this time for prostate cancer patients was called Mitozantrone, which has the trade name of Novantrone. This is a most useful treatment for patients with prostate cancer and, where there is poor life quality because of symptoms, life can be improved by the combination of Mitozantrone with low dose steroids. Although this does not produce a major improvement in life expectancy, it certainly does improve life quality. The side-effects of treatment are minimal: nausea and vomiting are generally not seen. Hair loss does not occur and the patients very rarely have infections. The advantages of Mitozantrone and lack of disadvantages have made this a very popular form of approach for recurrent disease.
'There have been advances in chemotherapy treatment recently. Docetaxel (Taxotere) treatment has been shown to prolong survival in some men with recurrent prostate cancer. The treatment does have side effects, although these are usually limited, but does provide new hope for men with this condition.
