Hormone Therapy for Cancer

Overview

Hormones are essential chemicals released by glands into the bloodstream to coordinate various bodily functions, but they can also fuel the growth, multiplication, and spread of certain cancerous cells. Hormone therapy combats this by cutting off the cancer cells’ access to the hormones they require for growth. Healthcare providers often combine hormone therapy with other treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy, and may also use it post-treatment to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.

Reasons for undergoing the procedure

Hormone treatment may be used by doctors to:

• Prevent your body from releasing the hormones that promote the growth and division of particular malignant cells. Surgeons may remove the glands that generate the hormones needed by malignant cells to proliferate.
• Prevent malignant cells from getting the hormones they require to proliferate and thrive.
• Use bioidentical hormones in place of real hormones. Artificial, lab-made hormones are known as bioidentical hormones. Bioidentical hormones prevent cancerous cells from proliferating since they are incompatible with natural hormones and cannot be used by the cells for growth.

Kinds of cancer treated with hormone therapy

Doctors may treat prostate cancer and estrogen-dependent malignancies, such as ovarian, uterine, and breast cancer, with hormone therapy.

Hormone therapy for prostate cancer

In hormone therapy for prostate cancer, various drugs are used to prevent hormones from interacting with malignant cells. Hormone therapy occasionally requires orchiectomy, or the removal of one or both testicles. Medications that may be used include:

• Abiraterone acetate: This drug prevents prostate cancer cells from producing androgens, such as testosterone, which are hormones crucial for physical maturation during puberty. It can be effective for individuals with prostate cancer that hasn’t responded to other hormone therapies or is likely to recur after treatment.
• Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone (LHRH) agonists: These medications signal the pituitary gland to halt the production of luteinizing hormone, which normally stimulates the testicles to release testosterone. Since some cancer cells depend on testosterone for growth, cutting off its supply inhibits their growth.
• Antiandrogens: Similar to luteinizing hormones, antiandrogens work by decreasing the production of testosterone in the body.

Doctors may also use radiation and hormone therapy in conjunction to treat prostate cancer.

Risks of hormone therapy for prostate cancer
Individuals may respond differently to hormone treatment for prostate cancer. Inquire with your doctor about any particular adverse effects. Typical adverse effects could be:

• Gaining weight
• Decreased or loss of sexual interest
• Erectile dysfunction.
• Osteoporosis or decreased bone density

Hormone therapy for breast cancer

Estrogen promotes the growth of certain cancers by binding to hormone receptors in the body, which are protein-based. About 80% of breast cancers are Estrogen Receptor-positive (ER-positive). To treat these cancers, healthcare providers work to lower hormone levels or prevent hormones from attaching to breast cancer cells. Hormone therapy is often used post-surgery to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. It can also be used pre-surgery to shrink tumors (adjuvant therapy) or to treat cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

Aromatase inhibitors, Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs), and estrogen receptor down regulators (ERDs) are examples of hormone therapy for breast cancer:

• Aromatase inhibitors: These medications reduce estrogen levels by inhibiting the enzyme aromatase, which converts other hormones into estrogen. In ER-positive cancers, estrogen promotes the growth of cancer cells. This type of hormone therapy is often used for postmenopausal individuals with ER-positive breast cancer.
• Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs): SERMs prevent estrogen from binding to cancer cells. Without this estrogen connection, cancer cells cannot grow and multiply.
• Estrogen Receptor Down Regulators (ERDs): ERDs block estrogen and make it more difficult for estrogen to bind to cancer cells.

Risks of hormone therapy for breast cancer
Each person experiences hormone therapy side effects differently. Typical adverse effects could be:

• Pain of stiffness of the joint
• Decreased or loss of sexual interest
• Breast tenderness or swelling
• Extreme tiredness
• Gaining weight
• Hot flashes
• Vomiting
• Nausea

Hormone therapy for ovarian cancer

Hormones may be used by doctors to treat an uncommon type of ovarian cancer. Tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors, and Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone agonists (LHRH agonists) are examples of hormone therapy for ovarian cancer.

Risks of hormone therapy for ovarian cancer
Possible side effects consists of:

• Osteoporosis
• Joint and muscle pain
• Hot flashes
• Dry vagina

Hormone therapy for uterine cancer
Doctors may use hormone therapy after surgery to remove cancerous uterine tumors, to treat advanced or recurring uterine cancer, or as palliative care to alleviate uterine cancer pain. Progestin, which mimics the hormone progesterone, is the most common hormone therapy for uterine cancer as it slows the growth of cancer cells. Other treatments for uterine cancer may include tamoxifen, LHRH agonists, or aromatase inhibitors.

Risks of hormone therapy for uterine cancer
Risks may include:

• Sweating at night
• Hot flashes
• Gaining weight

Hormone medication therapy has potential negative effects, just like most cancer treatments. Everybody has a unique experience. The type of hormone medication therapy you received, and your general health will determine how you respond to it. Inquire with your doctor about any possible side effects, especially any that could result in life-threatening issues.

Outcome

Hormone therapy is a treatment method employed by doctors to manage certain types of cancer. Depending on your specific situation, it can either prevent cancer growth or slow it down. Consult your doctor to understand the potential benefits of hormone therapy for your cancer. They are your best source of information tailored to your individual case.