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Hormone Therapy

Your hormones are chemicals your body produces that send messages that determine how specific parts of your body function. Hormones can affect everything from reproduction and mood to sexual development. Some cancers need hormones to grow. In some cases, hormone treatment for cancer can help prevent cancers from getting these hormones, which can shrink cancerous tumors or cause cancer to spread more slowly. At The Oncology Institute, we offer endocrine therapy for cancer and other hormone therapies. Our state-of-the-art cancer treatments are carefully selected in close collaboration with your medical team to ensure you receive the patient-centric care you need.

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What Is Hormone Therapy for Cancer?

Hormone therapy can work by stopping the production of a specific hormone, effectively stopping hormone-sensitive cancer cells from getting what they need to grow. In other cases, the goal may be to prevent hormones from reaching cells. The specific goal depends on the stage and type of cancer. 

Oncologists and other members of your care team may recommend hormone therapy to:

  • Reduce the risk of cancer recurrence after you finish your cancer treatment. 
  • Reduce a tumor’s size before other forms of treatment, such as surgery.
  • Treat cancer that has spread or has come back.
  • Improve quality of life by alleviating side effects during advanced cancer or palliative care.

Oncologists use hormone therapy to treat a range of hormone-sensitive cancers, including breast, prostate, thyroid, uterine, adrenal, and ovarian cancers.

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What Does Cancer Hormone Therapy Involve?

In many cases, you will receive injections or pills to take at home as part of hormone therapy. In some cases, surgery will remove an organ that produces hormones.

There are different kinds of hormone therapy, based on the specific cancer medical professionals are treating:

  • Some breast cancers are treated with therapies such as aromatase inhibitors (AIs), selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs), or surgery to remove the ovaries because some breast cancer cells rely on estrogen and progesterone hormones to grow.
  • Some prostate cancer is treated with medications that prevent cancer cells from making androgen hormones or stop the body from making luteinizing hormones. Some hormone therapy involves taking drugs to reduce the production of testosterone or consists of removing one or both testicles. 
  • Ovarian cancer that involves stromal tumors is sometimes treated with medication that stops estrogen production in the body or stops cancer cells from using estrogen. 
  • Uterine cancer is sometimes treated with AIs, SERDs, or progestins to slow the growth of estrogen-sensitive or progesterone-sensitive cancer cells in the lining of the uterus. 
  • Cancer that affects the adrenal gland can cause too much of specific hormones, such as cortisol, epinephrine, aldosterone, norepinephrine, and other hormones, so treatment in these cases is meant to control the levels of these hormones while you pursue other cancer treatments. 
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Getting Started

How Can I Decide if Cancer Hormone Therapy Is Right for Me?

At The Oncology Institute, we offer a range of world-class cancer treatments, including hormone therapy and an extensive clinical trial program. We continually invest in the latest, scientifically proven cancer treatments and provide supportive services throughout every step of your cancer treatment journey. Request an appointment to learn which treatments may be the right fit for you. 

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