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Health experts have highlighted hormone therapy as an effective treatment for certain breast cancers influenced by hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. Unlike hormone replacement therapy, which can exacerbate breast cancer, hormone therapy aims to inhibit the growth of hormone-sensitive tumors.
Hormone-sensitive breast cancers, which express hormone receptors, are fueled by the binding of estrogen and progesterone to these receptors, promoting tumor growth. Hormone therapy works by blocking these receptors or halting hormone production, thereby reducing cancer growth and minimizing the risk of recurrence or metastasis.
“Despite being termed hormonal therapy, it is essentially ‘anti-hormone’ therapy, designed to lower estrogen levels in the body and prevent its action on tumor cells,” explained Dr. Geeta Kadayaprath, Senior Consultant, Breast Surgery, at Apollo Cancer Centres in New Delhi.
Dr. Kadayaprath elaborated that hormone therapy is a potent treatment for hormone-sensitive tumors. For premenopausal women, tamoxifen is used to prevent estrogen from binding to tumor cells. Postmenopausal women, on the other hand, are treated with aromatase inhibitors that curb hormone production in peripheral tissues such as fat, which also produce hormones.
Hormone therapy’s role varies across cancer stages, from preventive treatment in early stages (I-III) to palliative care in advanced stages (IV). “While it may not be a standalone cure, hormone therapy is crucial in managing hormone receptor-positive breast cancer,” stated Dr. Tasneem Bharmal, Associate Consultant, Medical Oncology, at Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Head and Neck Cancer Institute of India in Mumbai.
The eligibility for hormone therapy extends to older women with early-stage hormone-sensitive breast cancer, who may use it as an adjuvant treatment with results comparable to chemotherapy, minus the latter’s severe side effects. However, tamoxifen can increase blood coagulability and uterine thickness, occasionally leading to uterine cancer. Aromatase inhibitors in older women may cause bone and muscle pain and elevate fracture risk.
Dr. Bharmal pointed out the affordability of hormone therapies in India, with costs ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 10,000 per month, depending on the prescribed hormone agent. Potential side effects include hot flashes, osteoporosis, joint pain, mood swings, and an increased risk of blood clots.
Health experts advocate for regular self-awareness, breast self-examinations, and early treatment to optimize outcomes for those with hormone-sensitive breast cancers.
