• Question: if you are treated by hormone therapy does it mean that your cancer will be terminal, and could it make your cancer a life shortening disease?

    Asked by Neala on 21 Jun 2023.
    • Photo: Adelaide Young

      Adelaide Young answered on 21 Jun 2023: last edited 21 Jun 2023 12:28 pm

      Some cancers are dependent on hormones and hormone therapy targets the hormones which the cancer is reliant on for survival. Probably the best example of hormone therapy use is in breast cancer where up to 80% of cancers express estrogen receptor. Estrogen targeting therapies are used to treat these tumours with great efficacy. In regards to breast cancer, as with others, it will depend more on the stage of diagnosis (how big the primary is, whether it has been able to start invading the surrounding tissue or establish itself at distant sites) rather than hormonal receptor status whether the cancer could be terminal. If caught at the earlier stages the majority ER positive breast cancer patients have a very good prognosis.

    • Photo: Tammy Piper

      Tammy Piper answered on 21 Jun 2023:

      Tumours are treated with hormone therapy as the tumour cells have extra hormone receptors and so use the naturally occurring hormones in the body to help them grow. The hormone therapy is actually anti-hormone therapy. With oestrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer, the therapy either prevents the body making oestrogen (Tamoxifen) or competes with the oestrogen molecules for the receptors (Exemestane), blocking them so the oestrogen sensitive tumour cells are starved of their growth factor. Having a hormone positive tumour usually has a better prognosis as the anti-hormone drugs have less side effects than chemotherapy and can be taken for longer. Tamoxifen is often prescribed for 5-10 years and benefits elderly patients for whom chemo would be too much on their health.

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