Hormone Therapy.
Hormone replacement therapy involves using hormones to treat certain cancers such as breast cancer, cancer of prostrate and uterine or endometrial cancer. These cancers are hormone dependent, meaning they need hormones to grow. Therefore, if the hormone is prevented from reaching the cancer cells, their growth can be stopped. This is the principle of hormonal therapy for cancer.
Hormone Replacement Therapy.
Hormone Therapy for cancer involves stopping the hormone from being produced or by stopping the hormone from reaching the cancer cells. This is done by
- administration of hormonal drugs or
- surgical removal of an endocrine organ such as orchietomy (surgical removal of testes) and oophorectomy (surgical removal of ovaries).
Hormone Replacement Therapy Side Effects.
Hormone treatment side effects can be divided into
1) Common side effects which are not serious.
2) Rare side effects which are serious.
1) Common side effects of hormone therapy.
- Impotence in men.
- Vaginal dryness, vaginal discharge, and irregular menstrual periods.
- Skin rashes.
- Headache.
- Nausea.
- Muscle pain.
- Fatigue.
2) Rare and Serious Side Effects of hormone therapy.
- Increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
- Increased risk of uterine cancer.
- Osteoporosis.
- Cataracts.
- Thrombosis in the veins.
Uses of Hormone treatment in cancer.
Hormone therapy is used in the treatment of
- breast cancer,
- cancer of the prostate and
- uterine cancer.
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