Hormonal treatment for breast cancer is often used to reduce recurrence of cancer after surgery. Sometimes it is also used as the main treatment for cancer for the patient. Be it as a main treatment method or combined with any other form of treatment for breast cancer, hormone therapy for breast cancer is often prescribed in the early as well as advanced stages of cancer for the patients whose reports show that the cancer is caused because of estrogen or progesterone positive receptors.

There are different types of hormone therapies for breast cancer, namely by ovarian ablation, giving inhibitors and giving drugs. Each type works in its own way. Hence hormone treatment is used only after completing the diagnosis and seeing the pathology report of the patient and after checking whether the patient has completed her menopause or not.

How Hormonal Treatment for Breast Cancer Works

The main source of estrogen is the ovaries, until menopause. But, after menopause, the scenario is different. Small amounts of estrogen are made in the body’s fat tissue by the hormone secreted by the adrenal gland in the human body. This hormone converts into estrogen, thus supplying it in small amounts inside the body. Estrogen and progesterone are the main components that promote the growth of breast cancer cells. These cancer cells in the breast either have estrogen positive receptors or progesterone positive receptors. Hormone therapy focuses on blocking these receptors, thus demoting the growth of cancer cells inside the body of the patient. Sadly, this therapy fails in case of estrogen or progesterone negative receptors.

Drugs for Hormonal Treatment for Breast Cancer

Tamoxifen: Tamoxifen or raloxifene or toremefene have similar properties and function in the similar way inside the human body. They are anti-estrogen drugs prescribed to the patients after surgery to prevent the recurrence of the breast cancer cells. These drugs are also sometimes prescribed to the patients suffering from metastatic breast cancer. Raloxifene, though has similar properties as tamoxifen or toremefene, it is not substituted for tamoxifen. Tamoxifen or toremefene or raloxifene prevent the estrogen from binding with the breast cancer cells and temporarily block the estrogen receptors of the breast cancer cells. These drugs have to be taken every day. They are available in pill form.

Some common side effects of tamoxifen or toremefene or raloxifene include weight gain, vaginal discharge or dryness, blood clots in legs, mood swings or fatigue. In some cases, where the cancer has spread to the bones of the patient, there are caches that the patient may develop a high calcium level, which cannot be controlled. If this happens, then the blood report of the patient is studied and the patient is suggested to stop the intake of the pills immediately. Sometimes, an unusual vaginal bleeding is also experienced by some patients, taking tamoxifen or toremifene or raloxifene. It is suggested to talk with the concerned physician immediately, if any signs of vaginal bleeding are observed.

Fulvestrant: Fulvestrant is a drug that is prescribed in the advanced stages of cancer, as it directly acts on the estrogen receptor and eliminates it. It is mostly prescribed when the patient does not show any positive response to tamoxifen or toremifene. The drug is mostly given to the women who are in their post-menopausal state. It is given in the form of injection, mostly once in a month.

Fatigue, nausea and hot flashes are the side effects experienced by most of the patients after or while taking a regular course of fulvestrant.

Aromatase Inhibitors: Aromatase inhibitors are prescribed for patients in early as well as advanced stages of breast cancer. They are also prescribed to the post-menopausal women with estrogen positive receptor breast cancer cells or who had the history of recurrence of cancer cells. They stop the production of estrogen, post menopause. Exemestane, anastrozole and letrozole are the commonly prescribed drugs by different cancer specialists. These block the enzyme aromatase, which is responsible for secreting estrogen in women, post menopause. The production of estrogen in pre-menopausal women is done in the ovaries, and it does not depend on this enzyme. Since these drugs block the enzyme, they have no effect of pre-menopausal women. These drugs are available in pills, which have to be taken every day.

Aromatase inhibitors are more effective in preventing the reoccurrence of breast cancer in women. Some major side effects like risk of uterus cancer and / or blood clots are seen in some of the patients.

Ovarian Ablation: Ovarian ablation is done in pre-menopausal women. It involves stopping the functioning of the ovaries either by surgery (oophorectomy) or through drugs (luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) or follicular stimulating hormone (FSH)). Surgery is performed in the case where permanent ovarian ablation is the only solution left for the patient. Goserelin or leuprolide is prescribed in case of LHRH. These drugs control the activities of the ovaries. LHRH drugs do not let the ovaries make estrogen, by blocking the signal the body sends to the ovaries. They can be prescribed along with tamoxifen or can be given as the sole drug.

These drugs do have some side effects. The major side effects experienced by most of the patients are vaginal dryness, mood swings, hot flashes and night sweats.

Androgens: Androgens or male hormones are given when the metastatic breast cancer patient’s body does not respond to any of the above mentioned options for hormonal treatment for breast cancer. Though they are effective, these drugs can lead to the development of deeper voice, body hair and / or other masculine characteristics in the body of the affected female.

Hormonal treatment for breast cancer is one of the effective methods of not only treating breast cancer but also preventing any signs of its reoccurrence. But this therapy has some side effects, which if experienced should be consulted with the concerned doctor.

P.S - All the drugs given above should be taken only on the prescription of your cancer specialist.