Does hormone therapy treat breast cancer in men?

Hormone therapy can treat breast cancer in men when the cancer cells have hormone receptors. It works by lowering the effect of hormones that can encourage receptor-positive cancer cells to grow. It is selected from the tumour test results and the overall treatment plan.

A biopsy or surgery sample can be tested for oestrogen and progesterone receptors. In men, hormone therapy commonly involves a medicine that blocks hormone signalling or changes how the body makes certain hormones. The treatment may be used after surgery, for cancer that cannot be removed completely, or when cancer has spread. It does not replace every other treatment: surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted medicines, or combinations may be considered according to the cancer’s features.

Ask whether the pathology report shows hormone receptors and which treatment goal applies to you. Discuss how the medicine is taken, how long it is planned, and how your team will check its effect. Possible effects can include hot flushes, changes in sexual function, mood changes, tiredness, or changes in bone health. Tell the oncology team about new or troublesome symptoms rather than stopping treatment yourself.

Contact your cancer team promptly for severe or rapidly worsening symptoms, a new painful swelling, yellowing of the skin, or difficulty breathing. Seek urgent help for chest pain, sudden weakness, confusion, or fainting. These symptoms can have several causes, so the care team may need to assess you and review your medicines.

Are hormone receptors present in my cancer? What benefit is this treatment intended to provide? Which side effects should I report quickly? Could it affect sexual health, mood, or bone strength? How will my response be monitored?