[Hot flashes after orchiectomy in treatment of prostate cancer-- a serious side effect].

Orchiectomy is a frequently performed therapy for prostatic carcinoma in elderly men. A so far widely neglected side-effect is the occurrence of hot flushes. They considerably decrease the quality of life of a large number of the patients who often are in a palliative situation and handicapped by other diseases. Therapeutic options are widely unknown. Therefore, the patients often consult their doctors in vain. In a study with 32 patients clinical appearance of hot flushes and their effects on the patient's quality of life were analyzed. 69% of patients with a mean age of 75 years experienced hot flushes, whereas 31% of patients with a mean age of 80 years had not been bothered by hot flushes. Possible therapeutic options are presented and discussed. Ciproteronacetate seems to be the most effective therapy with the least side-effects (9).