Hormonal Therapy

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Hormonal therapy is a treatment that uses medicines to block or lower the amount of hormones in the body to slow down or stop the growth of cancer. Find out more about when you might have it and the different types.

How Hormonal Therapy works

Some cancers use hormones to grow or develop. This means the cancer is hormone sensitive or hormone dependent.

Hormone therapy for cancer uses medicines to block or lower the amount of hormones in the body to stop or slow down the growth of cancer.

Hormonal Therapy

Cancers that can be hormone sensitive include

  • Breast cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Womb cancer (also called uterine or endometrial cancer)

Managing side effects of Hormonal Therapy

Some hormonal therapies can cause a range of side effects, depending on the type of cancer involved. For example, breast cancer patients may experience hot flashes; vaginal discharge, dryness and irritation; decreased sex drive; and mood changes. Prostate cancer patients may experience reduced ability to achieve an erection or orgasm. Aromatase inhibitors also may cause joint and muscle pain, and an increased risk of bone thinning (osteoporosis).