What is hormone therapy and how does it work?

Hormone therapy is a form of cancer treatment that stops or slows down the growth of cancer cells that rely on hormones. These medicines reduce the amount of or block certain hormones within the body which in turn affects the growth of cancer cells.

Hormones are natural secretions produced by the body’s endocrine glands and are transported through the bloodstream. They act as messengers between different parts of our body and are responsible for various functions. Certain cancer cells are hormone dependent and need these substances to grow. Hormone therapy lowers or blocks these hormones in the body so that the growth of these cancer cells is affected, eventually causing them to die.

How does hormone therapy affect cancer?

Hormone therapy works well with prostate, breast, uterine and ovarian cancers, but it can be used in the treatments of other cancers as well. It is sometimes used to shrink the size of tumours before radiation therapy or surgery. It also helps reduce the chances of the return of some cancers. It is effective in destroying cancer cells that have returned or spread to other areas.

What to expect with hormone therapy

Hormone therapy can be administered orally or intravenously and the course depends on the patient’s condition and type and stage of cancer. In some cases, the organs that produce specific hormones may be surgically removed to aid in the treatment.

Similar to chemotherapy, hormone therapy can present some side effects as it affects your body’s hormone production. Different people will have different side effects and they may depend on the type of hormone therapy being received. The most common side effects are:

• Hot flashes
• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Inability to have sex or reduced sex drive
• Fatigue
• Changes in menstrual cycles
• Mood changes

Speak to your local oncologist for more information on hormone therapy and its uses.