One of the most concerning potential side effects of hormone therapy for prostate cancer is a change in body shape or body image during treatment.
A wide variety of changes in body shape can be experienced by men on hormone therapy. Some of the most common include:
- Gynecomastia (abnormal breast enlargement), the result of decreased testosterone levels caused by the therapy. Gynecomastia is most often left untreated because it is more of a nuisance than a health risk. However, certain medications and surgery in some severe cases are options.
- Decreased testicular or penis size.
- Body and facial hair can thin. On the other hand, some bald men start to regrow hair on their heads during hormone therapy. Thinning body and facial hair again is not typically treated unless it becomes particularly bothersome.
