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Hormone therapy for breast cancer is also known as anti-estrogen therapy or endocrine therapy. Most people with breast cancer have hormone receptor-positive (HR+) disease. This means the breast cancer cells have receptors where the hormones estrogen or progesterone can attach. These hormones help the cancer cells multiply quickly.
Hormone therapy helps control HR+ breast cancer in two ways:
- It reduces or blocks the body’s production of hormones.
- It reduces or blocks the effects of the hormones.
Breast Cancer Care Tailored to You
You and your family are our top priority. At Fred Hutch Cancer Center, we offer comprehensive and compassionate care — personalized to you. You'll have access to the latest treatment options, clinical trials and supportive care services.
How Hormone Therapy Is Used to Treat Breast Cancer
For patients with early-stage HR+ breast cancer, hormone therapies reduce the risk that the same cancer will come back. They may also lower the chance of getting a new breast cancer.
If HR+ breast cancer is in distant parts of your body, endocrine therapies can help you live longer. They can be effective against tumors for a long time.
Estrogen-Receptor Blockers
These medicines bind to estrogen receptors on cells in your breast tissue and keep estrogen from attaching to the cells. This stops cancer cells from being able to grow and divide. The options include medicines called SERMs or SERDs.
- SERMs are selective estrogen receptor modulators. Examples are tamoxifen, toremifene and raloxifene.
- SERDs are selective estrogen receptor degraders/downregulators. They bind to estrogen receptors and reduce the number and shape of receptors. This makes it harder for cancer to grow and divide. Fulvestrant is a common SERD.
Aromatase Inhibitors
These medicines reduce the amount of estrogen moving through your body. They are helpful in people who have gone through menopause. Options include anastrozole, letrozole and exemestane.
Ovarian Suppression
Before menopause, your physicians might recommend medicine that stops your ovaries from making estrogen. Some examples are leuprolide or goserelin.
Why Choose Fred Hutch for Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer
At Fred Hutch, you get medical oncology care from leading physicians who specialize in breast cancer. Different breast cancers start, progress and respond to treatments in different ways. They are experts in their field and know how to choose, combine and schedule your treatments based on what works for your situation.
We often have clinical trials testing new drugs or new combinations of drugs for breast cancer. So, we can offer you therapies that aren’t offered everywhere.
Your care team at Fred Hutch is here to help you prevent or prepare for side effects and to relieve any side effects you have. The most important step you can take is to speak up and let your team know what you’re feeling. We’ve helped many patients and families through this process and know ways to ease your experience. The Fred Hutch Patient Education team has video resources that go over how to keep common side effects at bay.
Often, there are medicines to help, like anti-nausea drugs. Based on the side effect, there may be a range of other helpful options too, like diet changes, physical therapy and emotional and practical support. We also offer integrative medicine, including acupuncture.