Also, I would appreciate any thoughts about using the two drugs together. I hear very mixed things. Shea, that's because the data is mixed. The initial study that came out of SWOG in the 80's showed improved survival with combined therapy. When a follow up trial was done by SWOG in the 90's there was no survival benefit demonstrated when orchiectomy alone was compared with orchiectomy plus flutamide.
Hormonal therapy acts to suppress testosterone.
The tumor is androgen or testosterone dependent. By performing and orchiectomy or by giving LHRH agonists, over 90 percent the testosterone is eliminated. Orchietomy is the surgical removal of the testicles. Medical castration is the use of LHRH agonists. Chemical castration seems to have gained in popularity among men.