Hormone Therapy Help

Hormone therapy is the name given to two distinct medical treatments. Hormone replacement therapy, sometimes casually referred to as hormone therapy, involves the use of hormone-containing medications to counter some of the effects of female menopause. In cancer treatment, hormone therapy (or hormonal therapy) refers to treatment that lowers levels of hormones shown to increase the rate of cancer growth. Confusion based on these similar names can lead to public misconceptions about the protocols and conditions that apply to each individual therapy.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

• Hormone replacement therapy typically involves using a combination of two different hormones, estrogen and progestin. The drugs limit potential menopausal symptoms like mood swings, hot flashes, and urinary and vaginal problems. The two substances are given together because estrogen given alone increases chances of uterine cancer. In cases where a hysterectomy has been performed, progestin is not needed. Hormone replacement also has been effective in the prevention of osteoporosis and colorectal cancer, and may also help to lower heart disease risks. This combination of potential benefits once led doctors to frequently prescribe hormone replacement as a long-term therapy. However, information from clinical trials conducted in the early 2000s indicated previously unrecognized risks from long-term treatment.

  Potential risks from hormone replacement include elevated chances of stroke, breast cancer, heart disease, and blood clots. While the likelihood of these symptoms is not great, doctors no longer typically recommend extended hormone replacement. Still, the potential benefits from short-term use are commonly thought to outweigh the risks, and short-term therapies are widely prescribed. If you are interested in pursuing hormone replacement therapy, consult your doctor to weigh the best options for your particular situation.

Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer

• Hormone therapy for cancer uses a number of techniques to lower production of hormones that can accelerate cancer growth. In breast cancer, estrogen and progestin are common culprits. In prostate cancer, problems center around testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

  Eighty percent of breast cancers are "hormone-receptor-positive." In the presence of estrogen and/or progestin, these cancers pick up chemical signals that cause them to grow more rapidly. In these cases, hormone therapy medications are used to lower or block hormone production. If you have breast cancer, your doctor will typically assess the need for hormone therapy after surgery, when removed cancers can be examined and tested.

Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer

• In prostate cancer, testosterone and DHT similarly induce cancer cells to grow. Treatment frequently involves a class of drugs called LHRH analogs that work to lower hormone levels. Since these drugs cause testosterone levels to rise briefly when first taken, a newer class of drugs called LHRH antagonists is sometimes substituted. These drugs do not cause a testosterone spike. Additional drugs called anti-androgens are sometimes used to reinforce the effects of the LHRH compounds.

  Doctors disagree on when exactly to pursue hormone therapy for prostate cancer. Some prefer early use, while others prefer delaying the treatment. Similarly, some doctors believe hormone treatment should be continuous, while others believe it should be intermittent. Consult your doctor to learn his opinions regarding proper treatment. It is a good idea to educate yourself further on the risks and benefits of different approaches to treatment.