How effective is Hormone Therapy for Metastatic Breast Cancer?
How effective is Hormone Therapy for Metastatic Breast Cancer?
Metastatic Breast Cancer
Metastatic breast cancer is cancer that has spread from the breast to another part or organs of the body. Options for metastatic breast cancer varies on several factors one of them is levels of hormone receptors in the tumor. Cancers with increased levels of hormone receptors, called hormone receptor-positive, use the hormones estrogen and progesterone to grow and spread. Hormonal therapy is a treatment specifically for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and is also called endocrine therapy.
How does Hormone Therapy work?
Objective of a hormonal therapy is to lower the levels of estrogen and progesterone in the body or to block these hormones from getting to cancer cells. If the hormones cannot get to the cancer cells, the cancer cannot use them to grow.
Hormonal therapy is advised for all patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and the treatment options are based on several factors such as:
- Modality of treatment you have undergone or currently undergoing
- Health condition
- Spread of the cancer
The diagnosis of metastatic cancer be very stressful to the patients and their families. But with newer advancements and personalised care, patients with metastatic breast cancer can continue with treatment and also have good quality of life.
Clinical outcomes vary from one person to another and depends on many factors, which includes controlling the cancers growth. It is advisable to discuss the treatment plan with your oncologist which will help prepare the patient and family for the treatment.