Let's take a minute to talk about your medication.

This is bicalutamide, which you may hear called by its brand name Casodex. It is given with other medicines to help treat prostate cancer.

Bicalutamide is taken once daily, at the same time each day. You can take your dose with or without food.

This medicine can have side effects. The most common effects include hot flashes, body pain, feeling weak, or waking from sleep to urinate at night. You may also have diarrhea or constipation, nausea, or swelling in your arms, ankles, legs or feet. You may feel dizzy, so you should wait until you know how it affects you before doing activities that require you to be alert, like driving. Tell your doctor if you have side effects that bother you or that do not go away. You should not stop taking this medicine unless your doctor says it's okay.

As with any medicine, more serious side effects can occur. With bicalutamide, these include problems with your liver, blood sugar, and breast enlargement or pain. It can also cause serious bleeding problems. You should read the Patient Information Sheet to know what symptoms to watch for and when to report them. Your doctor will follow your condition closely and may order blood tests to keep this medicine safe for you.

Bicalutamide can interact with other medicines. You should always check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking or using other medicines.

Men with female sexual partners should talk to their doctors about which birth control methods to use and for how long.

For best results with bicalutamide, be sure to plan ahead for refills. Also ask your doctor for helpful resources about your condition.