Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer

If your breast cancer is hormone receptor-positive, you may be offered hormone therapy as part of your treatment. This video explains how hormone therapy works, the different types available, and what side effects you might experience. Hormone therapy works by reducing the amount of oestrogen in your body, or by stopping oestrogen from attaching to cancer cells. It is only effective for cancers that are oestrogen receptor-positive. Around six to seven out of ten breast cancers fall into this category. Hormone therapy is usually taken for several years - typically between five, and ten. The exact duration depends on your individual circumstances - including whether you have been through the menopause, and the risk of your cancer returning. Your oncologist will discuss the best plan for you. Tamoxifen is a commonly prescribed hormone therapy, particularly if you have not yet been through the menopause. It is an anti-oestrogen drug that stops oestrogen from attaching to breast cancer cells. You take it as a single tablet once a day. If you wish to become pregnant in the future - please discuss this with your oncologist. You will need to take a break from treatment, and tamoxifen must be stopped several months before trying to conceive - this is because the drug can harm an unborn baby. Aromatase inhibitors are the main hormone therapy for patients who have been through the menopause. These tablets stop oestrogen being made in fat; muscle; and the adrenal glands. There are three common types - and your oncologist will recommend the most suitable one for you. Aromatase inhibitors can gradually thin your bones over time - a condition called osteopenia or osteoporosis. You may also have a bone density scan, known as a DEXA scan - before or shortly after starting treatment. If your bone density is low, supplements and lifestyle changes can help protect your bones. Sometimes, we recommend ovarian suppression - which uses monthly injections to temporarily stop the ovaries producing oestrogen. This causes a temporary menopause and may be combined with other hormone therapies. When treatment ends ovarian function usually returns, although this does depend on your age. If you have questions about hormone therapy or managing side effects, please speak to your breast surgeon, oncologist, or breast-care nurse. Thank you for watching.