What Is Harmonal Therapy?
Hormone therapy is employed in the treatment of cancers that rely on hormones for their growth, such as certain prostate and breast cancers. It is a cancer treatment designed to impede or halt the progression of cancers fueled by hormones, also referred to as hormonal therapy, hormone treatment, or endocrine therapy.
As a systemic treatment, hormone therapy addresses hormones circulating throughout the body. The drugs utilized in this therapy travel systematically to locate and target the hormones, setting it apart from localized treatments like most surgeries and radiation therapies, which impact specific body parts.
While these localized treatments affect a particular area of the body, hormone therapy operates on a broader scale. It is noteworthy that surgery to remove hormone-producing organs can also function as a form of hormone therapy.
How Hormone Therapy Works?
- Blocking Hormone Receptors: Hormones, such as estrogen or testosterone, play a role in the growth and development of certain cancers. Hormone therapy may involve medications that block the receptors on cancer cells, preventing the hormones from attaching and stimulating cancer growth.
- Lowering Hormone Levels: In some cases, hormone therapy aims to reduce the production of hormones that contribute to cancer growth. This can be achieved through medications or procedures that lower hormone levels in the body.
- Inhibiting Hormone Production: For certain cancers, especially in the case of breast and prostate cancers, hormone therapy may involve inhibiting the production of hormones in the body. This can be achieved through medications or surgical removal of hormone-producing organs.
- Interfering with Hormone Synthesis: Hormone therapy may target the enzymes responsible for synthesizing hormones. By inhibiting these enzymes, the therapy disrupts the production of hormones that fuel cancer growth.
Hormone therapy can be used to:
- Address a specific cancer by halting or impeding its growth
- Alleviate symptoms associated with a particular cancer type
Types of cancers that can be treated with hormonal therapy:
Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer:
Hormonal therapy is frequently used in estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) and/or progesterone receptor-positive (PR+) breast cancers. Medications like tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors (e.g., anastrozole, letrozole, exemestane), and other hormone-blocking agents may be prescribed.
Prostate Cancer:
Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer: Prostate cancer often relies on the male hormones, particularly testosterone, for growth. Hormonal therapy, such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, anti-androgens, or orchiectomy (surgical removal of the testicles), is commonly used to reduce testosterone levels and slow the progression of prostate cancer.
Ovarian Cancer:
Some ovarian cancers may be influenced by hormones, and hormonal therapy can be considered as part of the treatment plan. However, ovarian cancer is more commonly treated with surgery and chemotherapy.
Endometrial Cancer:
Hormonal therapy, including the use of progestins or aromatase inhibitors, may be an option for certain types of endometrial cancer that are hormone receptor-positive.
Thyroid Cancer:
In some cases of thyroid cancer, especially differentiated thyroid cancer (papillary and follicular types), hormonal therapy may be used to suppress the production of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which can stimulate cancer cell growth.
Getting Hormonal Therapy:
Oral Drugs
Numerous forms of hormone therapy involve orally administered drugs. In such instances, you ingest the pill, capsule, or liquid in a manner similar to other medications. Typically, these are self-administered at home, with the frequency determined by the specific drug and the type of cancer under treatment. Therefore, it is crucial to understand precisely the prescribed administration instructions and adhere to them meticulously. Special precautions may be necessary based on the prescribed drug, and further details about precautions for oral cancer drugs.
Injectable Drugs
Certain hormone therapies involve injections administered in the arm, leg, or hip, known as intramuscular (IM) injections. Alternatively, some types are administered just beneath the skin of the abdomen (belly), termed subcutaneous (SC or sub-Q) injections. The frequency of administration depends on the specific drug and the type of cancer being addressed. These injections may take place at a treatment center or a doctor’s office.
Surgery To Remove Hormone-Making Organs
Certain surgical procedures, like orchiectomy for men with prostate cancer and oophorectomy for women with breast cancer, can function as hormone therapy by removing the primary sources of testosterone and estrogen/progesterone, respectively. Side effects are similar to those of medication-based hormone therapy, with a unique advantage of being a one-time procedure, avoiding extended medication use.