The objective of hormone therapy is therefore to block the action or production of natural hormones in order to prevent the development of cancerous cells. “Unlike chemotherapy or radiotherapy, which seek to kill cancer cells quickly, hormone therapy aims to cause their death in the longer term by creating an environment that is unfavorable to them,” notes the Foundation once morest cancer in Belgium.
This involves the use of anti-hormonal drugs. In the context of breast cancer, various active products are currently used as anti-estrogens, in particular tamoxifen. In the context of prostate cancer, the action of testosterone is inhibited by anti-androgens.
Hormone therapy is most often combined with other cancer treatments, including surgery – to remove hormone-secreting tissue – and radiation therapy.
“Hormonal therapies are generally well tolerated”, specifies the Gustave Roussy Institute. “Nevertheless, for prostate cancer, they are often associated with impotence. Those for breast cancer can, in turn, cause hot flashes, cessation of menstrual cycles. »
Note: Anti-hormonal drugs are given in the form of injections or tablets. Hormone therapy is a long-term treatment, which generally extends over several months or years. Thus, recent work by Inserm has shown that young women who stop hormone therapy in the first year present a greater risk of relapse of their breast cancer.
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