A woman’s reproductive system functions well with the help of two key hormones: estrogen and progesterone.
The more commonly known estrogen regulates the menstrual cycle and prepares the uterus for pregnancy, while progesterone thickens the uterine lining to receive a fertilized egg and plays a role in the breasts’ milk production capacity.
Both hormones regulate a woman’s mood, help maintain bone density, and contribute to brain function. However, prolonged exposure to or high levels of these hormones increase the risk of breast cancer.
This is because estrogen and progesterone fuel the growth of hormone-sensitive, or hormone-dependent, breast cancer cells.
Hormones drive cancer. Dr. Melodie Grace Remorca, a doctor from the Makati Medical Center’s Breast Imaging Center, explained that hormone-sensitive breast cancer cells contain hormone receptors – estrogen receptors and progesterone receptors – which are proteins that activate when hormones bind to them.
‘Once activated, these receptors affect specific genes, which, in turn, stimulate cell growth,’ the doctor added.
According to the American Cancer Society, about two out of three breast cancer cases are hormone receptor-positive.
How therapy helps
Hormone therapy can treat hormone-sensitive breast cancer by reducing the production of estrogen and progesterone in the body or by preventing these hormones from binding to the receptors on cancer cells.
‘Depending on the type of hormone therapy, this protocol can also slow the growth of cancer that has spread and lower the risk of cancer developing in other breast tissue,’ Dr. Remorca said.
This kind of therapy can be given before surgery to shrink the tumor or combined with chemotherapy and radiation therapy to make it easier for doctors to remove the tumor.
Alternatively, hormone therapy can be administered after surgery and is recommended for at least five years.
Dr. Remorca hailed hormone therapy as an effective approach to treating hormone-sensitive breast cancer, as it reduces the risk of recurrence and improves survival rates.
‘Of course, the type and stage of cancer and a patient’s overall health ultimately play a role in a patient’s prognosis, so early detection is still crucial to a favorable outcome,’ the doctor said.
If a woman notices any breast cancer symptoms – a lump in the breast, nipple inversion or discharge, or changes in breast size or shape – it is recommended to see a specialist immediately for an initial screening.