A Patient with Advanced Cancer of the Prostate Begins Treatment

A patient with advanced cancer of the prostate begins treatment with leuprolide [Lupron Depot] injections and will receive 7.5 mg IM once per month. After the first injection, the patient experiences an increase in cancer symptoms. What will the nurse tell the patient?

A) Desensitization to the drug over time will result in a decrease in these symptoms.
B) The dose of leuprolide may have to be increased to 22.5 mg per month.
C) These symptoms indicate a need for surgical castration to treat the cancer.
D) This is a sign that the patient's cancer is getting worse.