Hormone therapy

Hormones are chemicals that are naturally produced by the body. They control the growth and activity of cells and some cancers need hormones to grow. Hormone therapy is a way to use hormones to help fight cancer. It works by using medicine to block or lower the amount of hormones in the body. This in turn can stop or slow down the growth of cancer.

Hormone therapy is most commonly used to treat breast and prostate cancer. The type of hormone therapy you receive is dependent on the type of cancer you have. It is commonly given as either an oral tablet or an injection. If hormone therapy is a suitable treatment your doctor will discuss it with you.

Common side effects can include tiredness, headaches, hot flushes, and muscle or join aches.