Hormone therapy

Some tumours use the body’s hormones as fuel. This treatment cuts off the supply — and taking it consistently is what makes it work.

What it is

Some tumours use the body’s own hormones as fuel to grow. Hormone therapy interrupts that supply — either by preventing the hormone from binding to its receptor, or by reducing how much of it is produced.

Who it is for

Mainly in hormone-sensitive breast cancers (ER or PR positive), which account for the majority of cases. It is also used in other hormone-dependent malignancies.

Suitability is determined by immunohistochemical testing of the tumour — not by hormone levels in the blood.

What to expect

It is usually a tablet taken daily, for several years. That duration is what characterises hormone therapy and why tolerability matters so much: a treatment that is not taken consistently does not deliver.

If a side effect is making things difficult, there is nearly always an alternative — a different agent, a change in timing, or supportive treatment. Quietly stopping is the worst option; a conversation nearly always finds a way.

Side effects and management

The most common relate to reduced hormonal activity: hot flushes, joint aches, dryness, sleep disturbance or changes in mood. With long-term use, bone density is also monitored.

Most of these can be managed, and several ease after the first few months.

How the treatment is chosen

None of these treatments is “better” than the others in the abstract. The choice comes from the biology of the specific tumour, the stage, previous treatment, other conditions and — not least — what matters to you.

You will be told why this treatment is proposed rather than another, what it is expected to achieve, and what it will mean in practice for your daily life. If something is unclear, asking is always welcome — and so is a second opinion.

Frequently asked questions

Why do I need to take it for so many years?

Because hormone-sensitive cells can remain dormant for a long time. It is the extended duration that meaningfully reduces the chance of the disease returning.

Is it the same as hormone replacement therapy?

No — it is the opposite. Hormone therapy in cancer reduces or blocks hormone activity, whereas replacement therapy adds hormones.