Hormone therapy is a cancer treatment which restrains the production of hormones which assist in the growth of various types of cancer.
When it comes to cancer treatment, India has some of the best cancer specialists, accredited hospitals and highly advanced technologies providing some of the best treatments for cancer. The different kinds of treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, proton therapy, hormone therapy, and precision medicine are available in metropolitan cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bangalore. When it comes to hormone therapy, Chennai is among the best to provide advanced cancer treatments.
Further, it has some of the top cancer hospitals with renowned cancer specialists with international experience. Here, the quality of treatment is not comprised whether it is a Government hospital or a private hospital.
When you are looking for a cancer hospital in Chennai you must look for:
– The Best Hospital
– Accreditation
– Experienced Doctors
– Latest Technology
So to make things easier , for the best hormone therapy cancer treatment in Chennai, a health aggregator named ClinicSpots.com has listed the top hospitals in Chennai which are renowned for their success rate and affordable treatment.
Apart from this, Chennai provides the best international patient services which are as follows:
- Extension of medical visa.
- Follow up services after departing to your home country.
- Arrangements for special dietary requirements of patients.
- Language interpretation serivces.
Uses of Hormone therapy:
Hormone therapy is used to:
- Treat Cancer: Hormone therapy can lessen the chance of cancer returning by either stopping or slowing its growth.
- Ease cancer symptoms: Hormone therapy may be used to reduce or prevent symptoms in men with prostrate cancer who are not able to undergo surgery or radiation therapy.
Types of Hormone Therapy:
Hormone therapy falls into two broad groups:
- Block the body’s ability to produce hormones.
- Intervene how hormones behave in the body.
The Types of Cancer in which Hormone therapy is used:
- Prostate Cancer.
- Breast Cancer.
It is often used along with other cancer treatments.
However, the type of treatment that you need depend on the type of cancer, whether it has spread and how far, if it uses hormones to grow, and according to your other health problems.
Hormone therapy treatment along with other Cancer treatments:
Hormone therapy when used with other treatments can:
Make a tumor of a size that is less than normal before surgery or radiation therapy. This is called neo-adjuvant therapy.
Lower the risk of cancer coming back after the main treatment. This is called adjuvant therapy.
Defeat the cancer cells that have returned or spread to other parts of your body.
Things to expect when receiving Hormone therapy:
Hormone therapy may be given in many ways. Some common ways include:
Oral-Hormone therapy can be given orally in the form of pills that you can swallow.
Injection-The hormone therapy is given in the form of a shot in a muscle in your arm, thigh, or hip, or right under the skin in the fatty part of your arm, leg, or belly.
Surgery-You may have to go for operation to remove organs that produce hormones. In women, the ovaries are removed whereas in men, the testicles are removed.
How to tell if Hormone therapy is working?
If your purpose of taking hormone therapy is for prostate cancer, you will have regular PSA tests. If hormone therapy is working, your PSA levels will stay the same or may even go down. But if your PSA levels go up, this may indicate that the treatment is no longer working.
If you are going to take hormone therapy for breast cancer, you will have regular check-ups. This usually include an exam of the neck, underarm, chest, and breast areas. You will have regular mammograms, though you probably won’t need a mammogram of reconstructed breast. Your doctor may also ask for other imaging procedures or lab tests.
Special Diet Needs:
Hormone therapy for prostate cancer may cause you to put on weight.
Talk with your doctor, nurse, or dietician if weight gain becomes a problem for you.
Working during Hormone Therapy:
The best part of hormone therapy is that it does not interfere with your ability to work so you can continue with your work without any restrictions.
Side Effects of Hormone therapy:
Hormone therapy has certain unwanted side effects because it blocks your body’s ability to produce hormones or interferes with how hormones behave. The side affects you have will depend on the type of hormone therapy you receive and how your body responds to it. Side effects also differ between a man and a woman.
Some common side effects or aftermath for men who receive hormone therapy for prostate cancer are:
- Enlarged and tender breasts
- Brief sensation of heat
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Loss of interest in or ability to have s*x
Some common side effects or aftermath for women who receive hormone therapy for breast cancer include:
- Changes in your periods if you have not reached menopause
- Vaginal dryness
- Mood changes
- Brief sensation of heat
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Loss of interest in or ability to have s*x
Apart from traditional treatment options such as Surgery, Chemotherapy and Radiation therapy, Hormone therapy promises to be one of the best options for cancer care. Even though hormone therapy has certain pros and cons it is an advanced form of treatment.
Author: Sreelakshmi Shashi Nair
Kim Marks 
Nina Smith