Info
Hormone therapy
Treatment
What it means
A treatment that blocks or reduces the effect of certain hormones that can drive the growth of some tumors, such as some breast or prostate cancers. It is usually given over the long term and is part of the overall cancer treatment plan.
Related terms
The terms below often appear alongside this one. Each definition is right here, so you do not have to look elsewhere.
- Targeted therapy
- A drug treatment that selectively blocks specific molecules involved in the growth of cancer cells. Unlike chemotherapy, it affects healthy cells less. Examples: tyrosine kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies.
- Adjuvant treatment
- Treatment given after surgery or after the main treatment to reduce the risk of recurrence. It may be chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy or targeted therapy, depending on the type of cancer.
- Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT)
- A hormonal treatment that lowers the level of testosterone in the body or blocks its effect, used in hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. It can be done with medication (injections) or surgically.
Other terms in “Treatment”
Glossary definitions are written for patients by the OncoDots team and go through internal medical review. They explain terms; they do not establish a diagnosis and do not recommend a treatment.