Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in the United States. In 2019, it is estimated that over 200,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed; and over 40,000 women will die from the disease. Due to its high prevalence, breast cancer has become one of the most extensively studied cancers. As a result, there is a wealth of knowledge about various treatments and therapies available for patients. In this blog post, we will discuss endocrine therapy for hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer. This type of therapy uses hormones to target and kill cancer cells. We will also discuss the thoughts of Dr Uribe about this treatment.
What is Endocrine Therapy?
Endocrine therapy, also called hormone therapy or hormonal treatment, is a group of treatments that use hormones to help regulate the body's natural processes. These treatments can help manage conditions like breast cancer by helping to control the levels of hormones in the body.
Two types of endocrine therapy are commonly used to treat advanced breast cancer: chemotherapy androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and aromatase inhibitors (AIs). ADT involves giving women a drug that blocks testosterone production and can cause other side effects like weight gain, mood changes, and decreased sexual function. AI therapies work by blocking estrogen receptors on cancer cells so they cannot grow or spread.
Both ADT and AI treatments have their own benefits and drawbacks. ADT is often more effective at controlling disease progression but can cause serious side effects such as decreased sexual function, mood changes, and weight gain. AI therapies may be less effective at stopping tumor growth but may not cause as many side effects. Both types of therapy have been shown to be safe when done properly under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
Types of Hormone Receptor-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer
There are three types of hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer: those that express the HER2/neu oncoprotein, those that express the HER2/neu and ERBB2 proteins, and those that express other types of oncoproteins. The treatments for each type of cancer vary, but most people with advanced breast cancer receive some combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery. Some people also receive hormones to help slow the growth or spread of their tumors.
Treatment Options for Hormone Receptor-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer
There are a number of treatment options for hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer (HER2-positive). The most common type of therapy is chemotherapy, which usually includes some combination of HER2-targeted drugs. Other treatments include surgery and radiation.
Chemotherapy can be administered either as a single course or in several stages over a period of months or years. The drugs used in chemotherapy can damage both the tumor and the surrounding tissues, so it is important to choose the right drug and dosage for each individual patient. Many people find that they need to take multiple drugs throughout their treatment to keep the cancer at bay.
Surgery is an option for people who have stage 4 or 5 HER2-positive breast cancer and have no other viable options. During surgery, the doctor removes the tumor along with any associated lymph nodes or other nearby parts of the body. Surgery may also involve removal of adjacent organs, such as the liver, lungs, or bones.
Radiation is often used in combination with other therapies to treat HER2-positive advanced Breast Cancer. Radiotherapy uses high doses of radiation to kill tumor cells. Radiation may be delivered directly to the tumor or it may be given to nearby tissues before being directed at the tumor.
Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy is a treatment option for people with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer that doesn’t respond to other therapies. hormone therapy can include treatments such as Tamoxifen, Herceptin, and Letrozole. Hormone therapy can be effective in some people, but it is not always successful and it may not be available on a national basis.
Conclusion
After reading this article, it is clear that endocrine therapy is an important treatment option for hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer. While there are many different therapies available, endocrine therapy allows doctors to precisely target androgens and estrogens in the body to help suppress the growth of tumors. With early diagnosis and treatment, patients have a better chance of having a successful outcome. If you are someone who has been diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer, be sure to speak with your doctor about your options like hormone therapy for treating this condition.