Hormonal Therapy
While hormonal therapy is most closely associated with breast cancer, some recent studies have shown that such therapy may aid the mesothelioma patient as well, providing yet more hope for those individuals with this difficult-to-treat cancer.
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What is Hormonal Therapy?
Hormonal therapy, which differs from hormone replacement therapy used most often in the treatment of menopausal women, refers to any type of therapy that adds, blocks or replaces hormones.
As it applies to cancer patients, this treatment takes advantage of the fact that most cancers depend on hormones to grow. Hence, hormonal therapy involves the blocking of hormones (or their receptors) to treat certain types of cancer. A form of systemic (whole body) therapy, hormonal therapy is sometimes used as an adjuvant therapy to help reduce the risk of cancer recurrence after surgery.
Hormonal therapy drugs are generally administered in tablet form or as a suspension liquid. Side effects of hormonal therapy are usually mild and some people have no side effects at all. Commonly reported problems include an increased appetite, fluid retention and nausea. Rare but serious side effects associated with some hormonal therapies include a severe rise in blood pressure, jaundice, or an allergic reaction that might include swelling, difficulty breathing or chest pain.
Benefits for the Mesothelioma Patient
Recently, researchers have conducted studies using a synthetic hormone called dexamethasone in attempt to determine whether or not it will minimize the effects of some mesothelioma treatments, a development that doctors find very encouraging. Other clinical trials have begun to measure whether hormone therapy with the drug Megestrol, a progesterone derivative with antineoplastic properties, can reduce the production of cancer-stimulating hormones in patients with mesothelioma.
Hormonal therapy has already been proven useful for the treatment of breast and endometrial cancers in women and for the treatment of prostate cancer in men. Clinical trials will continue in the hopes of determining that this therapy may indeed have some sort of short- or long-term benefit for the mesothelioma patient.
Doctor Match Program
Msothelioma specialists are up to date on the latest treatments. If you think you'd benefit from consulting another doctor, use our Doctor Match Program to get an appointment.
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Last Modified Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
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