What is hormone therapy?
Several types of cancer of the reproductive system, such as some breast and prostate cancers, develop in the presence of substances produced by the body itself, called hormones. Hormonal therapy consists of changing the amount of these hormones in the body, in order to reduce the likelihood of these tumors growing and spreading.
How is hormone therapy administered?
Hormone therapy is usually administered orally, but also subcutaneously.
Which tumours are treated with this therapy?
The tumors most often treated with this type of therapy are:
- hormone-sensitive breast tumours (there are non-hormone-sensitive breast tumours and therefore have no indication to be treated with this therapy)
- prostate
Source: Portuguese Society of Oncology