Hormones after breast cancer: natural steroid hormones may be safe, effective

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

A new study suggests a safe and effective role for natural steroid hormones in treating postmenopausal breast cancer, with fewer detrimental side effects and improved health profile than with standard antihormone therapies. Researchers explored a radical and counterintuitive hypothesis: Could an optimal choice of hormones lead to improved survival factors and quality of life, enough to outweigh any negative effect on tumor recurrence? Results from this study in a mouse model suggest the answer is “yes.” The next step, according to the researchers, is to determine the hormone dose that is efficient and provides the maximum benefit with the fewest side effects. However, little profit potential and no pharmaceutical company involvement are significant barriers to the studies being undertaken.