Our body is like a complex, amazing factory. There are a group of messengers that exchange information between the different parts of this factory and work in coordination with each other. Simply put, these messengers are what we call hormones . Our body cannot function without hormones. However, sometimes these same hormones feed some cancer cells, helping them grow and spread. That is when hormone therapy becomes important for us.
So what is this hormone therapy?
Simply put, hormone therapy stops cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow. When cancer cells are deprived of these hormones, they lose their ability to grow, divide, and spread.
Doctors sometimes use this treatment alone. They also use it in combination with other treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. Sometimes, after all the main treatments have been completed, hormone therapy is also given to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back.
How does this treatment work?
There are three main ways this treatment works:
1. Stopping hormone production: Drugs are given to stop our bodies from producing hormones that cancer cells need. In some cases, the glands that produce those hormones (for example, the testicles in men) can also be surgically removed.
2. Blocking the action of hormones: This involves blocking the way for hormones to reach and attach to cancer cells. When hormones cannot reach and attach to the cell, the cell does not receive the message to grow.
3. Synthetic hormone replacement: Sometimes, bioidentical hormones made in a lab are given to the body. Although these synthetic hormones look like natural hormones, cancer cells cannot use them to grow. So when these replace natural hormones, the growth of cancer cells stops.
What types of cancer is hormone therapy used for?
Not all cancers are treated with hormones. This treatment is mainly used for hormone-dependent cancers, meaning that they need hormones to help them grow.
| Cancer type | Description |
|---|---|
| Prostate Cancer | It is used to control the growth of cancer cells that depend on male hormones (androgens). |
| Breast Cancer | It is used to control estrogen-sensitive (ER-positive) cancer cells. |
| Ovarian Cancer | It is used for some rare types of ovarian cancer. |
| Uterine Cancer | It is used to control the growth of cancer when it has spread or recurs. |
Hormonal treatment for prostate cancer
Prostate cancer cells are often stimulated by male hormones (androgens) such as testosterone. So the goal of treatment is to reduce the levels of these hormones or prevent them from working. Sometimes, surgical removal of one or both testicles (orchiectomy) is even performed.
Mainly used drugs:
- Abiraterone acetate: This drug stops the production of male hormones in prostate cancer cells.
- LHRH agonists: These drugs signal the pituitary gland in our brain to stop producing another hormone (luteinizing hormone) that helps produce testosterone.
- Antiandrogens: These directly prevent the hormone testosterone from binding to cancer cells.
Important: The side effects of this treatment vary from person to person. Discuss this openly with your doctor.
Commonly seen side effects:
- Weight gain.
- Decreased or loss of sexual desire.
- Erectile dysfunction.
- Decreased bone density (Osteoporosis).
Hormone treatment for breast cancer
About 80% of breast cancers are hormone-sensitive. This means that the cancer cells respond to the female hormone estrogen. These are called ER-positive cancers . So the goal of treatment is to reduce the level of estrogen in the body or to prevent estrogen from binding to the cancer cells.
This treatment is often given after surgery to reduce the risk of cancer coming back. However, it is also used before surgery to shrink the tumor or to treat cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
| Drug type | Functionality |
|---|---|
| Aromatase Inhibitors | It blocks an enzyme (Aromatase) that produces estrogen in the body, reducing estrogen levels (often given to women after menopause). |
| Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs) | The hormone estrogen prevents breast cancer cells from attaching to it. |
| Estrogen Receptor Downregulators (ERDs) | These block estrogen receptors and reduce their number. |
Commonly seen side effects:
- Body, joint pain or stiffness.
- Tired.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Weight gain.
- Decreased sexual desire.
- Feeling of excessive heat in the body (hot flashes).
- Breast pain or swelling.
How is this treatment given? What are the benefits and risks?
Hormone therapy is often given as a pill that you take daily. Some medications are also available as injections that you take at specific intervals. This is determined by your doctor.
The main advantage is that, when combined with other treatments, it can slow down or completely stop the growth of cancer cells.
The risk is the side effects. But remember, not everyone gets all the side effects. Also, there are ways to manage these side effects. It is very important to inform your doctor about any discomfort you feel. Side effects may vary depending on your health condition and the treatment you are receiving.
Take-Home Message
- Hormone therapy is a treatment method that cuts off the supply of hormones that cancer cells need to grow.
- This treatment is used for hormone-dependent cancers such as prostate, breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers.
- Treatment methods, medications, and side effects vary from person to person and depending on the type of cancer.
- This treatment may cause some side effects, but you can get help to manage them.
- It is very important to talk openly and clearly with your doctor about which treatment option is best for you and what its pros and cons are.
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