TREATMENT OF CASTRATION-INDUCED MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS WITH LOW-DOSE DIETHYLSTILBESTROL IN MEN WITH ADVANCED PROSTATE-CANCER

Menopausal symptoms manifesting as hot flashes and sweats occur in up to 75 percent of patients following either orchiectomy or treatment wi th a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist for prostate cancer . As many as one third of these patients will experience symptoms seve re enough to seek palliation. We treated 12 such patients with low dos e diethylstilbestrol (1/3 mg daily). Nine patients demonstrated both o bjective and subjective improvement in their menopausal symptoms. Five patients experienced toxicity including new onset of gynecomastia or breast soreness although no patient discontinued treatment on this bas is. No cardiovascular complications were noted. We conclude that low d ose diethylstilbestrol is an inexpensive, effective means of controlli ng troublesome postorchiectomy menopausal symptoms in carefully select ed patients.