Hormonal therapy is a treatment technique to either add or remove and even block a certain set of hormones that are responsible for causing a disease condition. Medically, it is also known as hormone withdrawal or replacement therapy.
Hormonal therapy is used in a wide range of treatment procedures mostly in the cases of cancer and other diseases related to hormonal imbalances. It is used in treating hot flashes from menopause, disturbed sleep, insomnia, mood swings, memory problems and vaginal dryness. This type of treatment is usually recommended for women in comparison to men, as it mainly deals with imbalances related to estrogen, testosterone and progesterone.
In the case of cancer, the treatment method is planned to stop the cancer cells from receiving the hormones, in order to stop growth and mutation.
Hormonal therapy in case of cancer is provided along with radiation and chemotherapy targeting endocrine glands, such as;
- Thyroid
- Pancreas
- Ovaries in women
- Testicles in men
Hormonal Therapy Is Common Treatment For These Types Of Cancer:
- Breast cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Thyroid cancer
- Colorectal cancer
Common hormonal drug therapies are thyroid hormones, somatostatin analogues, reproductive hormones and corticosteroids. However, certain side effects of hormonal therapy include thromboembolic, stroke and cardiovascular diseases.
