I have HR positive breast cancer. Do I need hormone therapy?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 52-year-old woman. I have been undergoing treatment for HR-positive breast cancer for the past six months. The side effects of chemotherapy have been challenging, especially fatigue and nausea.

I have been scheduled for a lumpectomy next month, followed by radiation therapy. I am anxious about the surgery and wondering about the long-term prognosis. So, my concerns are-

What can I expect during recovery?
Also, I have read about hormonal therapies for HR-positive breast cancer. Would that be recommended in my case?
How long would I need to take it, and what are the potential side effects of it?

Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

I am glad you called to discuss your concerns. It is completely normal to be anxious, considering you are getting a lumpectomy (a surgery to remove cancer from the breast).

Essentially, post-operatively, you will have some pain and swelling in the area, which does improve with time; most people return to activity within a week or two.

However, you do not want to do heavy lifting or intense exercise for the first little bit. Long-term prognosis in HR-positive breast cancer (cancer cells have receptors for hormones such as estrogen, a hormone associated with the female reproductive organs, or progesterone (a hormone that plays a key role in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy, which stimulates their proliferation), the treatment has become significantly improved with time.

Other factors that shall dictate your prognosis will include the size of the tumor and whether or not the lymph nodes are involved. For an HR-positive status, hormonal therapy shall be advisable after surgery, which may take five to ten years, depending on the circumstances.

Potential side effects include hot flashes, mood swings, exhaustion, and joint aches.

I hope this information will help you.

Kindly revert in case of queries.

Thank you.