General side effects of hormone therapy

The side effects you might get depend on the type of hormone therapy you are on. Remember that the side effects we have listed are general. You can find more information about the side effects of specific hormone therapies in the cancer drugs section.

General side effects include

• Tiredness
• Digestive system problems
• Menopausal symptoms
• Effects on your muscles and bones
• Weight gain
• Memory problems
• Mood swings and depression
• Blood clots
• Other effects

Tiredness

You may feel more tired when you are taking hormone therapy. For more information about coping with fatigue visit the cancer fatigue section in the coping with cancer section..

Digestive system problems

Hormonal therapies can cause a few problems with your digestive system.

You may feel sick. This is usually mild and settles down after a few days or weeks. Your doctor can prescribe anti sickness tablets, which should help.

You might have constipation or diarrhoea – this is usually mild and is easily controlled with diet or drugs. But as with any diarrhoea, if it is severe or lasts for more than 2 or 3 days, you need to tell your doctor or nurse.

You may lose your appetite a little. Or you may have an increased appetite which can lead to weight gain.

There is more information about coping with sickness, bowel problems and eating problems in our coping physically with cancer section.

Menopausal symptoms

If you haven’t already been through your menopause, it may start when you begin hormone therapy. This could be either temporary or permanent. If you are taking a luteinising hormone (LH) blocker, your periods will stop. If you are taking tamoxifen and are still having periods, they may stop or become lighter. You might also get other menopausal symptoms, even if you’ve already had your menopause. For example, you may have decreased interest in sex, vaginal dryness, hot flushes and sweating.

Do tell your doctor or nurse if you are having any problems coping with the sweating. There is treatment available that may help. There is information about hot flushes and sweating and dealing with sweating in our section about coping physically with cancer.

Muscle and bone changes

You may develop pains in your joints. This often settles down after a few weeks. You can take a mild painkiller to help control aches and pains.

Some hormone therapy can cause thinning of your bones. Weight bearing exercise can help to build them up and protect them. This means any exercise where you are carrying your own weight, such as walking, running, cycling or exercise in the gym. Swimming is not weight bearing exercise. So although it is good for you in other ways, it won't help with bone thinning. Check with your doctor before starting any new type of exercise, especially if you have not exercised for a while.

Tamoxifen can cause bone thinning in premenopausal women. In postmenopausal women Tamoxifen doesn’t cause bone thinning and can have some protective effect on your bones.

Aromatase inhibitors also cause bone thinning.

As bone thinning can lead to osteoporosis and bone fractures if it continues for a few years, your doctor may treat you with a drug to strengthen your bones – a bisphosphonate.

Weight gain

You may put on weight. You should be able to control this with diet and exercise, but it is often a struggle to keep weight down when you are having hormone treatment. You can ask to see a dietician for advice about managing your weight.

Memory problems

Some women feel that their memory gets worse when they have been having hormone treatment for a while. Your memory may not improve while you are taking the hormone treatment, but there are ways to make life easier, such as making lists so you don't forget things. It is natural to feel cheated and upset if you have this particular side effect. Talk to your doctor or specialist nurse if you feel this is having a significant effect on your life.

Mood swings and depression

Hormone therapy can affect your mood. Some women say they have mood swings and even depression while having treatment such as Zoladex (Goserelin). Talking with someone close to you may help. If you don't feel comfortable sharing your feelings with people you know, seeing a counsellor may help. There is information about counselling in our coping with cancer section.

Blood clots

Tamoxifen may increase the risk of a blood clot forming in the veins of the lower legs. This is called a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). We have more information about the risk of blood clots and their treatment.

Other general side effects

Medroxyprogesterone (Provera) is sometimes used for recurrent kidney cancer. The side effects you may experience when taking medroxyprogesterone are

• Water retention
• Weight gain
• Indigestion or nausea
• Sleeplessness

Medroxyprogesterone is a steroid hormone. If you are troubled by sleeplessness, it might be better to take your tablet in the morning.

Other side effects women may have when having hormone treatments include hair thinning, headaches and mood changes.

The side effects you might have depend on the type of hormone therapy you are taking. Remember that the side effects we have listed are general side effects. You can find information about the side effects of specific hormone therapies in the cancer drugs section.

• Tiredness
• Problems getting an erection
• Hot flushes and sweating
• Breast tenderness
• Pain from tumour flare
• Weight gain
• Memory problems
• Mood swings and depression
• Bone changes
• Risk of earlier heart attack
• Other general side effects

Tiredness

You may feel more tired when you are taking hormonal therapy. For more information about coping with fatigue visit the  cancer fatigue section in coping with cancer.

Problems getting an erection (impotence)

Difficulty getting an erection (impotence) is a common side effect of hormone therapy for prostate cancer. This is because the drugs stop you producing any testosterone. It may be possible for you to have erections again once the treatment stops. This can take 3 months to a year, or even longer. For some men, erection problems are permanent. It depends on the drug you are having and how long you have been taking it. 

Your doctor or clinical nurse specialist will be able to offer your more advice. There is more detailed information hormone therapy and prostate cancer in the hormone therapy for prostate cancer section. There is general information in the sex and cancer for men section of the coping physically section. 

Hot flushes and sweating

Hot flushes and sweating can be troublesome. They are the same as the hot flushes women friends and relatives may have had when going through menopause. The flushes are caused by your testosterone levels dropping. They may gradually get better as you get used to the treatment. Hot flushes are most likely with luteinising hormone releasing hormone blockers because these drugs cut off testosterone production altogether. Getting overheated, drinking tea or coffee, and smoking can all make flushes worse. 

Unfortunately, in some men the flushes keep on happening as long as you take the drug. If you have having problems coping with the sweating, do discuss this with your doctor or clinical nurse specialist because there are some treatments that may help. There is information about treatments for hot flushes in the sex hormones and cancer section. You can find information about dealing with sweating in our coping physically with cancer section.

Breast tenderness

Breast tenderness is a particular problem with high dose bicalutamide (Casodex). The breast tissue can become painful and swollen. Taking the drug tamoxifen can help to reduce breast tenderness in about 6 out of 10 men taking bicalutamide. Or sometimes it can help to have a small dose of radiotherapy to the breasts before your hormone treatment starts.

Pain from tumour flare

Pain caused by a secondary prostate cancer can temporarily worsen when you start hormone treatment and this is called tumour flare. Your doctor should always prescribe another hormone therapy when you start leuprorelin (Prostap) or Zoladex (Goserilin) injections to help prevent tumour flare causing bone pain. If the pain carries on, your doctor can prescribe drugs called bisphosphonates to treat it.

Weight gain

You may put on weight. You should be able to control this with diet and exercise, but it is often a struggle to keep weight down when you are having hormone treatment. We have a page about managing weight gain after treatment for prostate cancer.

Memory problems

Some men feel that their memory gets worse when they have been having hormone treatment for a while. Your memory may not improve while you are taking the hormone treatment, but there are ways to make life easier, such as making lists so you don't forget things. It is natural to feel cheated and upset if you have this particular side effect. Talk to your doctor or specialist nurse if you feel this is having a significant effect on your life.

Mood swings and depression

Hormone therapy can affect your mood. Some men say they have mood swings and even depression while having treatment such as Zoladex. Talking with someone close to you may help.If you don't feel comfortable sharing your feelings with people you know, seeing a counsellor may help. There is information about counselling in our coping with cancer section.

Bone changes

Men taking hormone therapy for prostate cancer are at risk of bone thinning (osteoporosis). There is evidence that the risk of problems, such as bone fractures, is slightly higher for men having long term treatment to block testosterone (for example, Zoladex). Your doctor may suggest taking vitamin D and calcium to help lower your risk of problems from osteoporosis. Other advice is to stop smoking, reduce the amount of alcohol you drink and take regular weight bearing exercise, such as walking.

We have detailed information about bone thinning and osteoporosis risk and hormone therapy in CancerHelp UK.

Risk of earlier heart attack

There is some evidence that if you are over 65, and at risk of dying from a heart attack, this is more likely to happen sooner if you have been taking hormone therapy for 6 months. This may be because some of the side effects of hormone therapy, such as weight gain, can make heart disease worse.

Other general side effects

Medroxyprogesterone (Provera) is sometimes used for recurrent kidney cancer. The side effects you may have when taking medroxyprogesterone are

• Water retention
• Weight gain
• Indigestion or nausea
• Sleeplessness

Medroxyprogesterone is a steroid hormone. If you are troubled by sleeplessness, it might be better to take your tablet in the morning.