hormonal therapy
Last reviewed 11/2023
Many breast cancer cells, particularly those which are oestrogen receptor positive require oestrogens to proliferate. Hormonal therapy aims to remove the proliferative oestrogen stimulus.
Hormonal therapy is used in two main circumstances:
- in advanced disease where surgery is not attempted or is not potentially curative
- in patients who have potentially curative surgery but who are at high risk of recurrence
Currently there are two approaches to reducing the oestrogen stimulus:
- antioestrogens
- aromatase inhibitors