How Hormone Therapy Works As Breast Cancer Treatment
After my diagnosis last year with breast cancer, I was stunned to discover that my particular type of breast cancer was Estrogen Receptor-Positive. This meant that, even though I had my ovaries removed 22 years ago when diagnosed with ovarian cancer, my body had managed to create more estrogen which was then feeding breast cancer cells and –voila! – It produced a tumor.
Once I was over the shock of having a second primary cancer, I wondered how my body could still produce estrogen. No ovaries, no estrogen, right? Wrong. Apparently, that brilliant human machine, our body, creates an enzyme called aromatase which is found in our muscles, skin, breasts and fat. This aromatase enzyme synthesizes estrogen from other hormones, literally converting them to estrogen.
So, after a lumpectomy and radiation, my oncologist prescribed an aromatase inhibitor named Femara, a pill that I take daily to suppress any future breast cancer cells from growing. Given the stage, grade, and biological profile of my tumor, this course of treatment is the current standard of care.
One little pill a day. What could be easier? And now for the rest of the story . . .
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