Does the hormone estrogen 'fertilize' cancer? (Estrogen-Dependent Cancers) Let's find out for sure!

You've probably heard of the hormone "Estrogen," right? It's an essential hormone that plays a very important role in a woman's body. But did you know that sometimes, estrogen, which is so beneficial to our body, can act like "fertilizer" for some cancer cells, helping them grow faster? Don't worry. This is a bit of a complicated topic, but let's talk about it in a very simple way that you can understand.

Simply put, what are these estrogen-dependent cancers?

First of all, we need to make this very clear. Estrogen hormone does not cause cancer. That is, estrogen is not a carcinogen. However, if a cancer cell develops in the body for some other reason, some of those cancer cells get the energy and stimulation they need to grow, divide, and spread from the estrogen hormone in our body. Just like fertilizer is used to grow a plant, these cancer cells use the "fertilizer" called estrogen to grow rapidly.

Think of it this way. A cancer cell is like a door. There is a place where the key is placed on that door (we call it a receptor). The hormone estrogen is like that key. When the hormone estrogen comes and binds to the receptor on that cancer cell, it is like putting the key in and opening the door, and the cancer cell receives the message, "Now divide, multiply, and spread." Cancers that depend on the hormone estrogen and are nourished by it are what we call estrogen-dependent cancers .

This condition is mainly seen in several types of cancer affecting women.

• Breast cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Uterine/Endometrial cancer

When treating these types of cancers, oncologists use treatments (hormone therapy) that block the estrogen hormone from reaching the cancer cells.

In which cancers is this condition most common?

However, this is most often discussed in relation to breast cancer . Not all breast cancers are estrogen-dependent. But there are some types that are very "like" estrogen. You may have seen these words in your breast cancer reports.

• ER-positive (ER+) breast cancer: This means that the cancer cells have estrogen receptors.
• HR-positive (HR+) breast cancer: This means that the cancer cells have hormone receptors. This means that they respond to one or both of the hormones estrogen or progesterone.
• Luminal A breast cancer
• Luminal B breast cancer
• Triple positive breast cancer

This is a bit complicated, but what it all means is that hormones help the cancer grow. Knowing this is very important for planning treatment.

Why does this happen? What factors increase the risk?

As we discussed earlier, this is because of special proteins on cancer cells (hormone receptors). Healthy cells also have these receptors. When estrogen comes and binds to them, those cells function normally. But cancer cells "hijack" this process and use it to divide and grow in ways they want.

There are several factors that increase the risk of developing this type of cancer. The main one is the increased amount of time a woman's body is exposed to the hormone estrogen during her lifetime.

You can get a clear idea of ​​these risk factors from the table below.

Something special about the drug Tamoxifen

There is a special case here. Tamoxifen is a very effective drug for hormone-dependent breast cancer. It works by blocking the estrogen from reaching breast cells. However, in the uterus of a woman who has gone through menopause, this drug begins to act in a completely different way, just like estrogen. Therefore, very rarely, there is a risk of developing estrogen-dependent uterine cancer when using this drug. Although this is a very rare occurrence, your doctor will inform you about this and will perform the necessary tests at the appropriate time.

How do doctors find this?

If you suspect you have cancer, the first thing your doctor will do is take a small sample of the cancer cells and send them to the lab. This is called a biopsy .

In the laboratory, this cell sample is taken and tested to see if it has receptors that can bind to the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

• If the test report says HR+ (Hormone Receptor-Positive) , it means that estrogen, progesterone, or both hormones are helping your cancer grow.
• If the test report says HR- (Hormone Receptor-Negative) , it means that these hormones do not affect the growth of your cancer.

This information is essential for treatment planning.

What are the treatments?

Once the cancer is confirmed to be hormone-dependent (HR+), doctors will recommend a treatment called hormone therapy . This involves stopping the hormone estrogen from becoming a "food" for cancer cells. This can be done in several ways.

• Blocking estrogen from reaching cancer cells: Like putting something in the keyhole of a door and closing it, drugs block estrogen receptors. Then estrogen can't come and bind to them.
• Stopping the body's production of estrogen: Medications are given that reduce or stop the production of estrogen.
• Replacing estrogen with something else: Sometimes, a "fake" hormone made in a lab that looks like estrogen but is not usable by cancer cells is given to the body. The cancer cells then take the fake hormone and are tricked into growing, but they are unable to do so.

Hormone therapy is usually not given alone. It is given in combination with other treatments, such as surgery , chemotherapy, or radiation therapy, depending on the type and extent of the cancer.

Do estrogens (phytoestrogens) from food and drink have an effect?

This is also a problem for many people. Some plant foods contain chemical compounds that act like estrogen in our bodies. We call these phytoestrogens . Examples of these are things like soy, milk, and whole wheat.

Researchers still don't agree on whether these phytoestrogens affect the risk of estrogen-dependent cancers. Some studies suggest that they may be beneficial for people with low estrogen levels in the body. But it's not yet clear how they affect people who already have high estrogen levels in the body. So, if you have this type of cancer or are at risk, it's best to talk to your doctor or a nutritionist about your diet.

Estrogen is a hormone that is essential for the survival of a woman's body. It helps with everything from our reproductive system to bone strength. But this same essential hormone can fuel some types of cancer. If you have breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer, your doctor will want to know if it is estrogen-dependent. That information will help them choose the most appropriate and effective treatment for you.

Estrogen, cancer, hormones, women's health, breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer