One in every eight cancer patients in women falls victim to breast cancer. This condition has become one of the most common types of cancer and women should become more aware of the symptoms, causes, and treatment.

Breast cancer is a condition where the cells grow out of control in any part of the breasts. This type of cancer is most common in women and rarely occurs in men. With the developing risks of breast cancer due to our present lifestyle, this particular practice has proven to reduce the occurrence of this fatal condition.

Types of treatment for breast cancer

The main treatments followed to treat breast cancer are:

  • Chemotherapy
  • Hormonal therapy
  • Biological therapy
  • Radiation therapy
  • Surgery 

Hormonal therapy for breast cancer

Hormone therapy for breast cancer is one of the most effective cancer treatments, slowing down or halting the growth of hormone-sensitive tumors. These tumors block the body from producing hormones or restrict the hormonal activity of breast cancer cells. Hormone sensitive breast cancer treatment works on tumors that respond to hormones.

It is important to note that, in hormone-insensitive tumors, the cells do not react to any hormone, and are not susceptible to hormone therapy for breast cancer.  

Effects of hormone therapy for breast cancer

Hormone therapy for breast cancer is one of the most effective ways to treat this type of condition. Some of the main effects of hormone therapy are:

  • Prevents cancer from recurring 
  • Reduces the risk of recurrence in other breast cells
  • Halt or reduce the growth of cancer cells
  • Decreases the tumor size

Radiation vs hormone therapy for breast cancer

This is one of the most common debates in cancer treatment, radiation vs. hormone therapy. In order to decide which treatment is more effective, one must know full well about the treatments, their functions, and their side effects.

Radiation therapy or radiotherapy is a type of treatment that takes high doses of radiation to eliminate cancer cells or shrink tumors. Whereas, hormone therapy slows down or halts the growth of these cells.

The type of treatment chosen for breast cancer is based on various factors that affect the body from the illness. Some of them are the symptoms, the damage caused, the side effects, and so on. So it is necessary to consult with a healthcare professional before opting for a treatment method.

Hormone positive breast cancer treatment

Breast cancer cells differ from the hormone receptors present in the tumor cells. The tumors containing estrogen receptors are called Estrogen Receptor (ER) positive. The ones containing progesterone receptors are called Progesterone Receptor (PR) positive. The breast cancer cells that contain both estrogen and progesterone are called Hormone Receptor (HR) positive. 

Hormone sensitive breast cancer treatment is one of the most preferred ways to treat this type of cancer as the cells are sensitive to hormones. This type of treatment blocks the hormones from making contact with the receptors on cancer cells or reduces the production of these hormones in the body. 

It is important to note that hormone therapy for breast cancer can only be followed if the cancer has receptors for estrogen or progesterone.

It is necessary to visit a healthcare professional and go through a complete analysis before deciding the mode of treatment for breast cancer.