What is hormone therapy?
Some types of cancers depend on hormones for their continued growth and spread. Hormone therapy is a common treatment in cancer management where synthetic hormones are used to block or change the action of natural hormones within the body to slow or prevent the proliferation of cancer cells. Hormone therapy is commonly used in prostate cancer, pre-menopausal breast cancer and post menopausal breast cancer.
Prostate Cancer
| Common Hormone Therapies | Side Effects |
|---|---|
| Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT): • Goserelin/Zoladex • Leoprolide/Lupron • Degralix | • Osteoporosis • Erectile dysfunction • Weight gain • Reduced muscle mass • Increased cardiovascular risk • Fatigue |
Exercise Recommendation
- Include impact, strength and resistance training
- See Prostate Cancer page for further information
Breast Cancer (post-menopausal)
| Common Hormone Therapies | Side Effects |
|---|---|
| Aromatase Inhibitors: • Arimidex • Aromasin • Femara | • Pain and joint stiffness • Vaginal dryness • Osteoporosis • Weight gain • Hot flushes • Fatigue |
Exercise Recommendations
- Include impact, strength and resistance training
- See Breast Cancer page
Breast Cancer (pre and post-menopausal)
| Common Hormone Therapies | Side Effects |
|---|---|
| Anti-oestrogen: • Tamixofen +/- Goserelin/Zoladex | • Vaginal dryness • Weight gain • Hot flushes • Night sweats • Heart palpitations • Anxiety • Sleep disturbance • Fatigue |
Exercise Recommendations
- Include impact, strength and resistance training
- See Breast Cancer page