Hormones present in a women’s blood causes a higher incidence of breast cancer among this gender. Breast cancer cells comprise proteins that are attached to estrogen which makes the cells to grow at faster rate. Hence, the most common breast cancer hormone therapy follows a systematic procedure and reaches to all the cancer cells which are present in the body to cure them. This therapy terminates the development of harmful hormones as it targets tumors and blocks the power of the body to build new hormones.
Hormone therapy is gaining popularity as it reduces the risk of breast cancer recurring in the body. One of the most common ones is blocking estrogen receptors to control cancer.
Drugs used in breast cancer hormone therapy to block estrogen receptors
Medicines such as Tamoxifen, Toremifene, and Fulvestrant are commonly used in estrogen hormone therapy. These medicines decrease the amount of estrogen developed in a women’s body, which is needed by the body to grow cancer cells. They are connected to the sensory system and used to block the estrogen receptors. Some of them also work as an anti-estrogen in the body.
Have a look at the following hormones in some detail:
Tamoxifen
Breast cancer hormone therapy is often done using Tamoxifen, which is used to block estrogen receptors that are seen on cancer cells on the breast. The drug acts by preventing estrogen from working with the cancer cells. This hinders cancer cells from growing and dividing themselves.
Although Tamoxifen has the effect of an anti-estrogen on breast cells, it functions like estrogen on other tissues such as uterus and bones in the body. Therefore, it is also called a selective estrogen receptor modulator or SERM.
Toremifene
This breast cancer hormone therapy also works as a SERM. Not used as commonly as Tamoxifen, it is used to treat metastatic breast cancer.
Fulvestrant (Faslodex)
Fulvestrant helps cancer patients by blocking and damaging estrogen receptors. It does not work as a SERM. Instead, it has the effect of an anti-estrogen, and so it works on all body tissues. Hence, it is commonly also known as a selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD).
Patients with metastatic breast cancer are often prescribed Fulvestrant therapy treatment. It is usually implemented after other hormone drugs such as Tamoxifen do not work anymore.