Hormone therapy

Tamoxifen is a medicine that works by blocking estrogen from binding to breast cancer cells that have estrogen receptors. Roughly two thirds of all breast cancers have estrogen receptors. When estrogen binds to these receptors, it stimulates those cells to grow. Other hormonal therapy medications for breast cancer include aromatase inhibitors, which block estrogen production using an enzyme called aromatase, and fulvestrant, a drug that interferes with the effects of estrogen on the estrogen receptor itself.

Hormone therapy treatments for prostate cancer help lower the testosterone level or block how testosterone interacts with cancer cells. Hormonal therapy medications like leuprolide, bicalutamide, and abiraterone help prevent prostate cancer cells from growing. These medications are important in treating advanced (metastatic) prostate cancer and are also used in combination with radiation for certain patients.

Thyroid hormone therapy uses synthetic hormones to boost low levels of natural thyroid hormones in the body. It’s commonly used to treat hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland has stopped producing enough hormones naturally. Hormone therapy may also be used to control the growth of an enlarged thyroid gland or to supplement natural hormones if the thyroid has been removed.

When estrogen levels decrease during menopause, some women may experience bone loss. Hormone therapy can help manage osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones to become weak and brittle. In women with menopause, hormone therapy typically involves taking a combination of estrogen and progestogen (a synthetic form of progesterone), the primary hormones in the female reproductive system. Estrogen can help women who experience significant symptoms of menopause, like severe hot flashes, and protect against bone loss, reducing the risk of fractures.

As menopause approaches, the body produces less estrogen. Lower estrogen levels can lead to uncomfortable symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood swings, and insomnia. Hormone therapy for menopause, also referred to as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), is a treatment designed to manage menopause symptoms by replenishing the body’s declining estrogen levels.

Your doctor may prescribe pills, capsules, or liquid hormone medications to take by mouth. These are typically taken at home, and the dosage and frequency will vary depending on the specific drug prescribed and the type of cancer you have.

Certain hormone therapies are administered through injections, which can be given into a muscle (like the arm, leg, or hip) or just under the skin in the abdominal area. The frequency of injections will depend on the drug used and the cancer type. Hormone therapy injections are typically given at a treatment center or doctor’s office, though some patients or caregivers may be trained to administer them at home.

Surgery can also serve as a form of hormone therapy. Hormone therapy for men with prostate cancer may involve removing the testicles (orchiectomy) while hormone therapy for women with breast cancer may require removal of the ovaries (oophorectomy). Both surgeries can help reduce the body’s hormone production and slow cancer growth. If your doctor recommends surgery, they will share instructions to help you prepare for the procedure.

If you are receiving hormone therapy for prostate cancer, you may experience:

• Hot flashes
• Reduced sexual desire
• Erectile dysfunction
• Fatigue
• Weight gain
• Memory issues
• An increased risk of other health problems, including fractures due to bone loss

If you are receiving hormone therapy for breast or ovarian cancer, you may experience:

• Hot flashes
• Vaginal discharge, dryness, or irritation
• Reduced sexual desire
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Muscle and joint pain
• An increased risk of fracture due to bone loss
• An increased risk of stroke, blood clots, cataracts, heart disease, and developing other cancers