Hormonal Treatment

Hormones are chemicals produced by the body naturally to control various processes such as growth, sexual function, mood, regulation of food, and reproduction. The glands release these hormones into the bloodstream from where they reach their target organs and perform their functions. However, some hormones tend to be used by cancer cells to grow, multiply, and thrive in the body. This is when the body needs hormone therapy, which aims at eliminating the access of cancer cells to hormones for their growth. Hormone therapy can slow the growth or prevent the spread of cancer cells in the body by stopping the production of certain hormones. It also prevents hormone surfaces from attaching to the cancer cells. The therapy is a little easy to follow in the sense that it can be taken in the form of:

  • Oral tablets, or capsules
  • Can be injected in the arm, leg, abdomen or hip
  • 0In some cases, it may be needed to surgically remove the organs that produce these hormones such as the ovaries or testicles 

Why hormonal therapy?

Hormone therapy is often recommended by specialists for the following reasons:

  • It does not allow the body to produce hormones that aid in cancer cell growth.
  • Hormonal therapy can block access to cancer cells that depend on hormones for their survival.
  • Hormone therapy also substitutes bioidentical hormones in place of actual hormones. Bioidentical hormones are nothing but lab-made artificial hormones that cancer cells cannot rely on for their survival.

What are the diseases treated through hormonal therapy?

Different types of hormone therapies can be used to treat different forms of cancers impacted by hormones. Some of the diseases that hormone therapy can treat include:

 

  • Breast cancer: This is one of the most common forms of cancer among women and is greatly affected by hormones. In many cases, it has been observed that breast cancer tumours depend on oestrogen and progesterone to grow. Hence, hormone therapy targets the surface receptors of these hormones and prevents the cancer cells from using them for their growth and multiplication.
  • Sometimes surgery may be indicated to remove the ovaries, known as oophorectomy.
  • Prostate cancer: The prostate is a part of the male reproductive system and is the most common cancer detected in men. The growth of prostate cancer in men is usually supported by androgens, especially testosterone. Hormone therapy acts by lowering the levels of androgens to delay the growth of prostate cancer. Sometimes surgery may be needed to remove the testicles, known as an orchiectomy or surgical castration. 
  • Endometrial cancer: Endometrial cancer is the cancer of the lining of the womb which is also affected by hormones. 
  • Thyroid cancer: In people with thyroid cancer, hormone therapy is used after they are treated with surgery. Thyroid hormone therapy replaces the hormones that cancer cells have been depending on and prevents them from growing further.
  • Adrenal cancer: Adrenal cancer is a type of cancer in which the adrenal gland produces excess hormones. Prescribe medications to control the levels of these hormones along with standard treatment.

Some other where tumours that can be treated with hormone therapy include the following:

  • Neuroendocrine tumours
  • Pituitary gland tumour

Who are the ideal candidates for this procedure?

People with the following symptoms are ideal candidates for hormone therapy:

 

  • You have been diagnosed with a hormone receptor-positive type of cancer
  • Your cancer has early advanced or is in the metastatic stage
  • If surgery or radiation therapy is not indicated to treat the type of cancer that you have
  • In cases where you need hormone therapy as an adjunct to other treatment modalities. 

Expertise of Action Cancer Hospital in hormonal therapy

Action Cancer Hospital is one of the best hospitals in Delhi for people battling cancer. Here is why you should choose Action Cancer Hospital for your cancer treatment:

 

  •  Experience and specialised team: Action Cancer Hospital has the best team of oncologists and endocrinologists who have extensive experience in treating patients with cancer using hormone therapy. 
  •  Advanced treatment options: Action Cancer Hospital offers access to a wide range of hormone therapy medicines which includes the latest drugs and treatment protocols. This ensures that you get the most effective treatment for the  specific type of cancer you may be battling with.
  •  Supportive care: We not only offer diagnosis and treatment but also post-therapy care to ensure that you are supported throughout your journey of treating cancer.
  •  Focus on patient experience: We, at Action Cancer Hospital, prioritise positive patient experience. This includes factors such as comfortable treatment facilities, shorter wait times and an expert team who is attentive to your concerns.
     

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Our Experts

Dr. Samit Purohit

Director

Medical Oncology, Targeted Therapy, Hormonal Treatment, Immunotherapy Clinic, Chemotherapy Clinic, Medical Ovarian Suppression, Medical Castration, Tyrosine Kinase Therapy, Maintenance Parp Inhibitors, Familial Cancer Syndrome Clinic, Palliative Care

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Dr. Samit Purohit

Director

Dr. Sushant Mittal

Director

Medical Oncology, Targeted Therapy, Hormonal Treatment, Immunotherapy Clinic, Chemotherapy Clinic, Medical Ovarian Suppression, Medical Castration, Tyrosine Kinase Therapy, Maintenance Parp Inhibitors, Familial Cancer Syndrome Clinic, Palliative Care

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