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Hormonal Therapy

Hormonal therapy is an effective treatment option for certain types of cancer. Some cancer cells require hormones for growth and division. Hormonal therapy aims to reduce the availability of hormones to cancer cells, thereby arresting their growth and division. It can be done by removing the hormone-producing organ through surgery, reducing the secretion, or interfering with the receptors.

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  • Neoadjuvant Hormonal Therapy: In this type of hormonal therapy, the hormones are administered before radiation therapy or surgery. It allows the tumor to shrink, which can be easily removed (surgery) or damaged (radiation therapy). It improves the efficacy of surgery or radiation therapy.
  • Adjuvant Hormonal Therapy: In adjuvant hormonal therapy, the hormones are administered after radiation therapy or surgery. It kills the cancer cells that remain after either of the procedures. Adjuvant hormone therapy reduces the risk of cancer recurrence.
  • Monitoring response to Hormonal Therapy: Certain tests are used to monitor the response to hormone therapy. The choice of test depends upon the type of cancer. For instance, the response of hormone therapy for prostate cancer is tested by checking the blood level of Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA). Mammograms may evaluate the response to hormone therapy in breast cancer. Further, hormonal levels in the blood are also monitored. Elevation of hormonal levels in the blood during hormone therapy indicates that the therapy is not working.
  • Administration of Hormonal Therapy: There are several ways to deliver hormonal therapy. These include oral administration and administration through injection. The injection may be intramuscular or subcutaneous.
  • Surgery during Hormonal Therapy: Certain surgeries are included in hormone therapy. These include orchiectomy (removal of the testicles) for prostate cancer to reduce progesterone and oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries) for breast cancer to lower progesterone and estrogen levels.
  • Managing cancer symptoms: Hormonal therapy is also used in patients with advanced cancer to manage the symptoms. In such cases, it is included in the treatment strategy for palliative care.