Aim: To study the effect of combined androgen block therapy on hemoglobin and hematocrit values in patients with prostate cancer.
Methods: One hundred and thirty-six patients with adenocarcinoma of prostate were treated with combined androgen block (orchiectomy and flutamide 250 mg, tid). Complete blood counts were determined before and after 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of therapy.
Results: The hemoglobin and hematocrit levels declined significantly in all patients and at all the time points after treatment (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Prostate cancer patients treated with combined androgen block would develop obvious anemia. Recombinant human erythropoietin can be used to treat patients with severe anemia.