The Role of Hormone Receptors in Breast Cancer
Reviewed by Poonam Sachdev on February 19, 2022
Video Transcript
SPEAKER: About two-thirds
of people with breast cancer
have a kind known as hormone
receptor positive.
Hormones are chemical substances
that circulate
in the bloodstream and help
control
most of our bodies'
major systems.
Two the can affect breast cancer
are estrogen and progesterone.
They help regulate
sexual characteristics
and functions, but they can also
lead to the growth
of some breast cancers.
The cells in these breast cancers have proteins called hormone receptors. When a hormone binds to a receptor, it tells the cell to become cancerous. Your doctor will be able to test to see if your breast cancer has hormone receptors with a biopsy. If so your, doctor may prescribe a form of hormone therapy. These drugs lower your hormone levels or block the estrogen from acting on the cancer cells. This then slows or stops the growth of tumors.
Not all forms of breast cancer have hormone receptors. Those are called hormone receptor negative. These types of cancer do not respond to hormone therapy. Treatment for this type of cancer may include chemotherapy.
The cells in these breast cancers have proteins called hormone receptors. When a hormone binds to a receptor, it tells the cell to become cancerous. Your doctor will be able to test to see if your breast cancer has hormone receptors with a biopsy. If so your, doctor may prescribe a form of hormone therapy. These drugs lower your hormone levels or block the estrogen from acting on the cancer cells. This then slows or stops the growth of tumors.
Not all forms of breast cancer have hormone receptors. Those are called hormone receptor negative. These types of cancer do not respond to hormone therapy. Treatment for this type of cancer may include chemotherapy.
