Hormonal therapy is a form of systemic treatment for breast cancer. The goal is to protect your whole body from breast cancer cells that may have escaped the original tumor. In hormonal therapy, drugs are used to block the effects of hormones (such as estrogen and progesterone) that have the potential to promote the growth of breast cancer.

Tamoxifen is the best-known anti-estrogen therapy for fighting and preventing breast cancer. However, other treatments are available that you may have to make decisions about.

In this section you can read about recent research studies on tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors, ERDs (estrogen receptor downregulators), and dealing with Hormonal Therapy side effects.

You can also learn about how hormonal therapies work, what the different types are, and which types might be right for YOU.

The medical experts for Hormonal Therapy are:

• Francene M. Fleegler, M.D., medical oncologist/hematologist, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA
  
  
• Sandra F. Schnall, M.D., medical oncologist/hematologist, Thomas Jefferson University Health System, Philadelphia, PA
  
  
• Marisa Weiss, M.D., breast radiation oncologist, Thomas Jefferson University Health System, Philadelphia, PA
  
  
• Lisa Weissmann, M.D., medical oncologist/hematologist, Harvard University Health System, Cambridge, MA