Hormone therapy

Hormones are substances that are produced naturally in the body and affect how the body works. Some cancers use hormones to grow. This means the cancer is hormone dependent. The aim of hormone therapy is to help reduce the size and slow down the spread of the cancer.

Types of hormone therapy

There are 2 main types of hormone therapy: drugs that stop hormones from being made, and drugs that prevent hormones from making cancer cells grow and divide. Hormone therapy is also called endocrine therapy, hormone-blocking therapy or androgen deprivation therapy.

When it’s used

Hormone therapy is mainly used to treat some types of breast, prostate and uterine cancers. This therapy is sometimes used before surgery to shrink a tumour; it can also be used after surgery or chemotherapy to reduce the risk of cancer returning. Hormone therapy can be used to slow the growth of cancer that has spread throughout the body (metastasised) and help manage symptoms.

How it’s given

Hormone therapy can be given as tablets, injections or through a device placed in the uterus. It can be used for a short time or long term. How long you have hormone therapy depends on the aim of the treatment, how the cancer responds and any side effects you have.

Possible side effects of hormone therapy

Hormone therapy drugs affect hormone levels throughout your whole body. Possible side effects include tiredness, hot flushes, mood changes, weight gain and weakening of the bones. Rare side effects include blood clots and heart problems.

Learn more about breast cancer, prostate cancer, cancer of the uterus and hormone therapy.

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