Hormone therapy

What is hormone therapy?

Some cancers ‘feed’ on male or female hormones to grow, such as certain types of breast cancer (hormone receptor-positive breast cancers), uterine cancers and the majority of prostate cancers. Hormone therapy, also known as endocrine therapy, focuses on depriving cancer cells of the specific hormones that feed them. Hormone therapy is given in the form of oral tablets, injections under the skin (subcutaneous injections) or injections into the muscle (intramuscular injections).

It is usually used alongside other cancer treatments, with the goal of:

• Shrinking the size of cancerous tumours before surgery or radiotherapy

• Reducing the risk of cancer recurrence following treatment

• Controlling or slowing the growth of cancer that has spread

• Reducing the impact of cancer symptoms

Side effects

Like all cancer treatments, hormone therapy can cause side effects. These vary depending on the type of hormone therapy you receive, the cancer being treated, and your individual response to treatment. Some people experience only mild side effects, while others may notice more significant changes.

Because hormone therapy works by changing the levels or effects of hormones in the body, many side effects are related to these hormonal changes.

Common side effects may include:

• Hot flushes and night sweats

• Tiredness or fatigue

• Changes in mood

• Reduced sex drive

• Sexual health changes, such as erectile dysfunction or vaginal dryness

• Weight gain or changes in body composition

• Loss of muscle strength

• Joint or muscle aches

• Difficulty concentrating or memory changes

• Bone thinning (osteoporosis) with some long-term treatments

Your specialist will discuss the side effects that are most relevant to your treatment before you begin. They will also monitor you throughout treatment and can recommend ways to help manage side effects if they occur.

Many side effects improve after treatment finishes, while others may continue for longer or require ongoing management. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including regular physical activity and a balanced diet, may help reduce some side effects and support your overall wellbeing during treatment.

If you experience new or worsening symptoms, or if side effects are affecting your daily life, let your care team know. There are often treatments and supportive care options available to help.