Hormone therapy for breast cancer

Hormonal therapy - breast cancer; Hormone treatment - breast cancer; Endocrine therapy; Hormone-sensitive cancers - therapy; ER positive - therapy; Aromatase inhibitors - breast cancer

Hormone therapy to treat breast cancer uses drugs or treatments to lower levels or block the action of female sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone) in a woman's body. This helps slow the growth of many breast cancers.

Hormone therapy can make cancer less likely to return after breast cancer surgery. It also may slow the growth of breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

Hormone therapy can also be used to help prevent cancer in women at high risk for breast cancer.

It is different from hormone therapy to treat menopause symptoms.

Hormones and Breast Cancer

Drugs That Block Estrogen

Drugs That Lower Estrogen Levels

Lowering Estrogen Levels From the Ovaries

Drug Side Effects

Weighing the Options