Hormonal therapy

Definition

Hormonal therapy involves using medications or surgical procedures to block, add, or remove hormones to slow or stop the growth of hormone-sensitive cancers. It is often used in cancers that rely on hormones for their growth, such as breast and prostate cancer.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Hormonal therapy can be classified into two main types: hormone-blocking therapies and hormone-releasing therapies.
2. Common drugs used in hormonal therapy for breast cancer include tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors.
3. In prostate cancer, drugs like luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists are frequently used to lower testosterone levels.
4. Side effects of hormonal therapy may include hot flashes, fatigue, and changes in mood.
5. Hormonal therapy is often used in combination with other treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.

Review Questions

• What are the two main types of hormonal therapy?
• Name one common drug used in hormonal therapy for breast cancer.
• What is a potential side effect of hormonal therapy?

Related terms

Chemotherapy: A type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to kill rapidly dividing cells.

Tamoxifen:

A drug commonly used in hormonal therapy for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

LHRH Agonists: Drugs that reduce testosterone levels and are commonly used in the treatment of prostate cancer.