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Why it's done
By Mayo Clinic staffSome breast cancers are fed by the hormone estrogen. Doctors refer to these tumors as estrogen receptor positive. If your doctor determines that your breast cancer is estrogen-receptor positive — via microscopic analysis of a tumor that's been biopsied or removed — hormone therapy for breast cancer can be used to deprive the tumor of estrogen. Hormone therapy should be considered for all estrogen receptor positive breast cancer, no matter what the cancer's size or stage.
Hormone therapy for breast cancer can help to:
- Prevent cancer from coming back in the same area after a tumor has been removed
- Decrease the risk of cancer developing in other breast tissue
- Slow or stop the growth of cancer that has spread
- Reduce the size of a tumor prior to surgery
References
- Tamoxifen: Questions and answers. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/tamoxifen. Accessed June 4, 2010.
- Sabel MS. Oncology. In: Doherty GM. Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Surgery. 13th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=5316764. Accessed June 4, 2010.
- Meric-Bernstam F, et al. Oncology. In: Brunicardi FC, et al. Schwartz's Principles of Surgery. 9th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=5021163. Accessed June 4, 2010.
- Pritchard KI. Adjuvant endocrine therapy for premenopausal women with early stage breast cancer. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 7, 2010.
- Pritchard KI. Adjuvant endocrine therapy for postmenopausal women with early stage breast cancer. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 7, 2010.
- Ellis M, et al. Endocrine therapy of metastatic breast cancer. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 7, 2010.
- Treatment of invasive breast cancer by stage. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Treatment_by_Stage_Breast_Cancer_5.asp?sitearea=. Accessed June 4, 2010.
- Giuliano AE. Breast Disorders. In: Doherty GM. Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Surgery. 13th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=5213900. Accessed June 4, 2010.
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