Hormone Therapy
Hormone Therapy – What is it and How is it Used?
There is evidence that the female sex hormone oestrogen stimulates breast cancer to grow and to spread. Consequently, patients are advised to stop using any drugs containing oestrogen, such as the contraceptive pill and HRT, if they develop breast cancer.
The use of drugs/treatments that oppose the effect of oestrogen or reduce its production can be useful in breast cancer treatment. Such drugs/treatments thatare used to manipulate the sex hormones are:
• Anti-oestrogens, e.g. tamoxifen, Faslodex
• ‘Switching off’ of ovaries, e.g. Zoladex
• Progestagens, e.g. Megace (are rarely used nowadays)
• Aromatase inhibitors, e.g. Arimidex, Femara, Aromasin