Immunotherapy and Hormone Therapy for Cancer
Immunotherapy and hormone therapy are cancer treatments that work in different ways to help control or slow the growth of certain cancers.
Cancer Treatment Designed Around Your Diagnosis
Cancer treatment is not one-size-fits-all. Depending on the type of cancer you have, your care team may recommend immunotherapy, hormone therapy or another treatment that targets specific features of your cancer.
At Broward Health, our cancer specialists develop a treatment plan based on your diagnosis, overall health and individual needs. These therapies may be used alone or combined with treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is cancer treatment that helps your immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. Different types of immunotherapy work in different ways. Some help immune cells find cancer while others remove barriers that cancer cells use to avoid an immune response.
Your care team will determine whether immunotherapy may be an option based on your type of cancer, its characteristics, previous treatments and other factors.
Types of Immunotherapy
Your immune system uses checkpoint proteins to control when immune cells attack. Some cancer cells take advantage of these checkpoints to avoid being recognized by the immune system.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors block these signals, helping immune cells recognize and attack cancer cells. These medications may be used to treat certain blood cancers and solid tumors, including some lung, breast, bladder, colorectal, cervical, liver, stomach, head and neck and skin cancers.
Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy, also called endocrine therapy, is used to treat certain cancers that rely on hormones to grow, including some breast and prostate cancers. It works by lowering hormone levels in the body or blocking the way hormones affect cancer cells.
Depending on your diagnosis and treatment plan, hormone therapy may be used before or after other treatments or to help control cancer that has returned or spread. It is different from hormone replacement therapy, and your care team will explain which type of hormone therapy may be right for you and what to expect during treatment.
What to Expect During Treatment
How you receive treatment depends on the medication prescribed. Some immunotherapies are given through an IV or injection, while hormone therapy may be taken by mouth or given by injection.
Your care team will explain how your treatment is given, how often you will receive it and what side effects to watch for. Because some immunotherapies can cause significant immune reactions, your care team may also monitor you closely during and after treatment.
Immunotherapy and Hormone Therapy at Broward Health
Your cancer care team will help you understand whether immunotherapy, hormone therapy or another treatment may be appropriate for your diagnosis. Medical oncologists, nurses and other specialists work together to coordinate your treatment and help manage your needs throughout your care.
Broward Health also offers support services that may be part of your care, including oncology nutrition, social work, financial counseling, rehabilitation, palliative care and genetic testing and counseling.
Cancer Care Specialists
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Your cancer care team can help you understand your treatment options and determine which therapies may be appropriate for your diagnosis.
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