Hormone ablation therapy: lightening the load for today's prostate cancer patient.

Prostate cancer is the most common nonskin cancer in the United States, with more than 2 million men currently living with the disease (Prostate Cancer Foundation, 2005). Hormone ablation therapy has resulted in much improved outcomes for thousands of men with this disease; however, there are often side effects that impact patients' quality of life. An overview of the use of hormone ablation therapy and the critical role nurses play for patients undergoing this treatment is provided.