Breast Cancer 101

A Guide to Breast Cancer by Susan G. Komen

CHAPTER 11

Hormone Therapy

CHAPTER 11

Hormone Therapy

Chapter Overview

Hormone Therapy discusses the interaction of hormones and cancer cells in the development of breast cancer and how hormone therapy treats breast cancer. It examines SERMS, the most common class of estrogen blocking drugs, including tamoxifen.

This chapter also includes information on aromatase inhibitors and estrogen receptor downregulators. Finally, it explores ovarian suppression, an option for slowing the growth of hormone receptor positive breast cancer in premenopausal women by preventing the ovaries from making estrogen.

The following topics are discussed in this section:

  • Hormones & Cancer
    • Estrogen and progesterone
    • Hormone receptors
    • Hormone blocking drugs
  • Tamoxifen
    • How tamoxifen works
    • Tamoxifen regimens
    • Benefits of tamoxifen
    • Potential risks of tamoxifen
  • Side Effects of Tamoxifen
    • Common side effects
    • Rare but serious side effects
  • Aromatase Inhibitors
    • How aromatase inhibitors work
    • Commonly prescribed aromatase inhibitors
    • Criteria for using aromatase inhibitors
    • Benefits of aromatase inhibitors
    • Potential risks of aromatase inhibitors
    • Side effects
  • Ovarian Suppression
    • Goal of ovarian suppression
    • Options for ovarian suppression
    • Drug therapy for ovarian suppression
    • Surgical therapy of ovarian suppression