Hormonal therapy

Hormone therapy is a cancer treatment method that intervenes in the hormone balance in the body to stop or slow the growth of hormone-dependent tumors, such as breast or prostate cancer.
This approach involves taking medications that block the action of certain hormones or lower their level in the body. Hormone therapy is particularly effective for those cancers that use hormones such as estrogen and testosterone for their development and spread.

Hormone therapy in breast cancer

Hormone therapy, also known as endocrine therapy, is used to treat both early breast cancer and stage 4 breast cancer. Because not all breast cancers are sensitive to hormone therapy, this type of treatment is primarily appropriate for breast cancer that is ER-positive or PR-positive. As medical oncology has advanced, hormone therapy has been found to be particularly effective when combined with targeted therapy.
Hormone therapy works by blocking the hormones estrogen or progesterone from stimulating cancer cell growth. Hormone therapy can be given alone or in combination with other treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy or targeted therapy.
Hormone therapy may be given before surgery to shrink the tumor, make surgery easier, and/or reduce the risk of recurrence. This is called neoadjuvant hormone therapy. When given before surgery, it is usually given at least 3 to 6 months before surgery and continued after surgery. It may also be given only after surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence. This is called adjuvant hormone therapy.

Types of hormone therapy

Tamoxifen

Tamoxifen is a drug that blocks estrogen from binding to breast cancer cells. It is effective in reducing the risk of recurrence in the breast that has had cancer, the risk of developing cancer in the other breast, and the risk of distant recurrence. Tamoxifen works in both women who have gone through menopause and women who have not.
Tamoxifen is a pill that is taken by mouth every day for 5 to 10 years. For premenopausal women, it may be combined with medication to stop the ovaries from producing estrogen. It is important to discuss any other medications or supplements you are taking with your doctor, as there are some that may affect tamoxifen. Common side effects of tamoxifen include hot flashes and vaginal dryness or bleeding. Very rare risks include cancer of the uterine lining, cataracts, and blood clots. However, tamoxifen may improve bone health and cholesterol levels in postmenopausal women.

Aromatase inhibitors.

They reduce the amount of estrogen produced in tissues other than the ovaries in postmenopausal women by blocking the enzyme aromatase. This enzyme changes weak male hormones called androgens into estrogen. These drugs include anastrozole, exemestane, and letrozole. All pills of this type are taken by mouth every day. Only patients who have gone through menopause or who are taking medications to stop the ovaries from producing estrogen can take aromatase inhibitors.

Ovarian suppression or ablation.

Ovarian suppression is the use of drugs to stop the ovaries from producing estrogen. Ovarian ablation is the use of surgery to remove the ovaries. These options can be used in addition to another type of hormone therapy for women who have not gone through menopause. The type and amounts of medications may vary according to whether a woman is pre- or postmenopausal. This is most accurately assessed by the treating physician according to the patient's condition

Hormone therapy in breast cancer

Hormone therapy, also known as endocrine therapy, is used to treat both early breast cancer and stage 4 breast cancer. Because not all breast cancers are sensitive to hormone therapy, this type of treatment is primarily appropriate for breast cancer that is ER-positive or PR-positive. As medical oncology has advanced, hormone therapy has been found to be particularly effective when combined with targeted therapy.
Hormone therapy works by blocking the hormones estrogen or progesterone from stimulating cancer cell growth. Hormone therapy can be given alone or in combination with other treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy or targeted therapy.
Hormone therapy may be given before surgery to shrink the tumor, make surgery easier, and/or reduce the risk of recurrence. This is called neoadjuvant hormone therapy. When given before surgery, it is usually given at least 3 to 6 months before surgery and continued after surgery. It may also be given only after surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence. This is called adjuvant hormone therapy.

Types of hormone therapy

Tamoxifen.

Tamoxifen is a drug that blocks estrogen from binding to breast cancer cells. It is effective in reducing the risk of recurrence in the breast that has had cancer, the risk of developing cancer in the other breast, and the risk of distant recurrence. Tamoxifen works in both women who have gone through menopause and women who have not.
Tamoxifen is a pill that is taken by mouth every day for 5 to 10 years. For premenopausal women, it may be combined with medication to stop the ovaries from producing estrogen. It is important to discuss any other medications or supplements you are taking with your doctor, as there are some that may affect tamoxifen. Common side effects of tamoxifen include hot flashes and vaginal dryness or bleeding. Very rare risks include cancer of the uterine lining, cataracts, and blood clots. However, tamoxifen may improve bone health and cholesterol levels in postmenopausal women.

Aromatase inhibitors.

They reduce the amount of estrogen produced in tissues other than the ovaries in postmenopausal women by blocking the enzyme aromatase. This enzyme changes weak male hormones called androgens into estrogen. These drugs include anastrozole, exemestane, and letrozole. All pills of this type are taken by mouth every day. Only patients who have gone through menopause or who are taking medications to stop the ovaries from producing estrogen can take aromatase inhibitors.

Ovarian suppression or ablation.

Ovarian suppression is the use of drugs to stop the ovaries from producing estrogen. Ovarian ablation is the use of surgery to remove the ovaries. These options can be used in addition to another type of hormone therapy for women who have not gone through menopause.
The type and amounts of medications may vary according to whether the woman is pre- or postmenopausal. This is most accurately assessed by the treating physician according to the patient's condition

Hormone therapy for cervical cancer

Hormone therapy prevents cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow and spread.
Hormones are chemicals produced by different glands in the body. They circulate in the bloodstream, and certain hormones can affect the way some cancers grow. Hormones that can stimulate cancer include:

• Estrogen
• Progesterone
• Testosterone

Hormone therapy in lung cancer

Not applicable

Hormone therapy in ovarian cancer

Rarely, hormone therapy, also called endocrine therapy, may be used as supportive therapy for some low-grade serous tumors if they reoccur or recur. These include tamoxifen (Soltamox) and aromatase inhibitors such as letrozole (Femara), anastrozole (Arimidex) and exemestane (Aromasin). Hormone therapy is also used to treat stromal tumors, such as recurrent granulosa cell tumors.

Hormone therapy for colon cancer

Not applicable