Hormone therapy

What are hormone therapies?

Hormones are natural substances made by glands in our bodies. They are carried around our body in our bloodstream and act as messengers between one part of our body and another. Hormones are responsible for many functions in our body, including the growth and activity of certain cells and organs.

Hormone therapy is commonly used in treatments for cancer that use or block hormones. Some cancers use hormones to grow or develop. This means the cancer is hormone sensitive or hormone dependent.

How can hormone therapy be used for cancer?

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.

Hormone therapy stops hormones being made or prevents hormones from making cancer cells grow and divide. It does not work for all cancers.

We offer hormone therapy treatment for patients with the following cancers:

• Breast cancer
• Prostate cancer

Side effects of hormone therapy

Your Consultant will go through the side effects of hormone therapies with you and provide advice on how best to cope with them. Potential side effects can include fatigue, hair loss, migraines and bowel problems.