Hormones that are naturally produced in the body can cause some cancers to grow. The aim of hormone therapy (also called endocrine therapy or androgen deprivation therapy, ADT) is to slow down the growth of these cancers by blocking or lowering the amount of hormones the tumour cells are exposed to.
Hormone therapy for breast cancer
If a cancer is growing in response to the hormones oestrogen or progesterone, the cancer cells will have hormone receptors. These are proteins found on the surface of the cancer cell. Cancer cells with oestrogen or progesterone hormone receptors on them are called hormone receptor positive or hormone-sensitive cancers. They are more likely to respond to hormone therapy.
Anti-oestrogen drugs (such as tamoxifen) are used to reduce the risk of oestrogen-sensitive breast cancers coming back. Many anti-oestrogen drugs are taken for 5–10 years. Pregnancy should be avoided while taking the drugs and for 9 months afterwards, as there is a risk the drugs could harm an unborn child. These drugs can cause menopause symptoms, although they don’t bring on menopause.
Although hormone treatments for breast cancer are used for many years, ask your doctor if it is possible to take a break from the drugs to try for a baby. Anti-oestrogen drugs do not damage the ovaries or eggs. Some anti-oestrogen drugs are of benefit during fertility treatment and keep your oestrogen levels low.
Males with breast cancer who are taking the drug tamoxifen may experience increased sperm production.
Hormone therapy for cancer of the uterus
Some cancers of the uterus grow in response to oestrogen. Hormone therapy may be given if the cancer has spread or if the cancer has come back, particularly if it is a low-grade cancer.
Hormone therapy for prostate cancer
The hormone testosterone helps prostate cancer to grow. Hormone therapy may reduce how much testosterone your body makes and help slow the growth of the cancer or even shrink the cancer, but it may also cause infertility.
→ READ MORE: The impact of other cancer treatment on fertility
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Dr Sally Reid, Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist, Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Adelaide) and Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA; Dr Sarah Ellis, Clinical Psychologist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital and UNSW, NSW; John Booth, Consumer; Hope Finlen, Haematology Nurse Consultant, Gold Coast University Hospital, QLD; Dr Michelle Harrison, Medical Oncologist – Gynaecological cancers, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Melissa Jones, Nurse Consultant, Youth Cancer Service SA/NT, Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA; Dr Violet Kieu, Clinical Director, Melbourne IVF and Fertility Specialist, The Royal Women’s Hospital, VIC; Prof Declan Murphy, Consultant Urologist, Director – Genitourinary Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and The University of Melbourne, VIC; Stephen Page, Family and Fertility Lawyer, and Legal Practice Director, Page Provan, QLD; Ann Retzlaff, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; A/Prof Kate Stern AO, Fertility specialist, Gynaecologist and Reproductive Endocrinologist, Royal Women’s Hospital and Melbourne IVF, VIC; Georgia Webster, Consumer.
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