Hormone Cancer Therapy -- An Effective Method for Breast Cancer Treatment

Added: 02/06/2006

A method of cancer treatment is selected according to many factors including a tumor type, a stage of disease, a patient's age, his level of health and his wishes. The main cancer therapy methods include the surgical method, radiation therapy and medication treatment. Last years the hormone cancer therapy has been frequently used especially in the case of breast cancer. It consists of hormonal suppression. In the case of hormone-sensitive tumors this method is very effective.

Different tumors respond to various therapy methods differently. So, the type of tumor should be accurately defined because it is the most important step in appropriate cancer therapy selection. The type of tumor may be defined by biopsy. The stage of the disease also influences the treatment selection because the earlier stage needs one type of treatment and the later ones need the different one. Not all the treatment methods may be used in each particular case.

What is hormone cancer therapy?

Hormone therapy is a method of treatment by hormonal and anti-hormonal agents. In general hormone therapy is used in several medical areas including oncology. The hormone cancer therapy is especially effective in breast cancer treatment.

How does hormone cancer therapy work in the case of breast cancer?

As we know estrogens (female sex hormone) stimulate a tumor growth. Estrogens combine with special proteins (receptors) on a tumor surface and stimulate its growth. The main vectors in hormone cancer therapy in the case of breast cancer treatment include:
- A reduction of estrogens level that are developed in ovary;
- A blockage of receptors to estrogens and progesterone;
- A reduction of estrogens level that are developed in epinephros;
- A hormonal suppression of estrogens action by great concentration of male sex hormones i.e. introduction of estrogens or progesterone.

How many types of hormone cancer therapy are there nowadays?

There are three main types of hormone cancer therapy. The first one is adjuvant (additional, preventive) hormone therapy. It is carried out after the surgical intervention. The second type of hormone cancer therapy is neoadjuvant therapy that is carried out before the coming operation. And the last one is the treatment hormone cancer therapy. It is used in the case of inoperable cancer and generalization.

Chemotherapy or hormone therapy? Advantages and disadvantages.

We could not compare these methods according to the level of effectiveness. Because they have the specified indications and definite results depended on the tumor and its peculiarities. If the tumor is sensible to chemotherapy its effectiveness is the same as if the tumor is sensible to hormone therapy. Sometimes chemotherapy is not effective at all and vice versa. The obvious advantage of hormone cancer therapy is the following. It affects the general condition less than chemotherapy. Hormone cancer therapy may be carried out on an outpatient basis excluding ovariectomy that is made only in hospital.

How effective is hormone cancer therapy?

In the case of hormone-sensitive tumors the tumor may regress completely. It also concerns any possible remote metastasis. Hormone therapy may extend the patient lifetime in a number of cases.

In any case before the method of cancer treatment selection you have a right to ask your doctor any questions to understand the nature, effectiveness and appropriateness of one or another method and also tell your wishes. And only then you will select the best method.

Rate this article:

Bad

Good

Article comments:

No comments for this article yet. Post your comment now!

Return to top of the page