Do I need to do castration for breast cancer patients?

Mondo Health Updated on 2024-02-25

Ovarian drug castration refers to the use of drugs to inhibit ovarian function and stop producing estrogen and progesterone, so as to remove or reduce the impact of estrogen and progesterone on the body and achieve the purpose of castration.

Ovarian ablation can be helpful for breast cancer after medication. Breast cancer is usually an estrogen-dependent tumor, and the ovaries are one of the main organs that produce estrogen. Inhibiting ovarian function through ovarian castration can reduce the level of estrogen in the body, thereby slowing or inhibiting the growth and metastasis of breast cancer. Therefore, ovarian castration medication is used in some breast cancers.

1.Lowers estrogen levels: Drug-castration can inhibit ovarian function and reduce estrogen production. This helps to lower estrogen levels in the body, which slows or inhibits the growth of breast cancer.

2.Blocking estrogen receptors: Druggrated castration can block estrogen receptor binding, thereby reducing the stimulating effect of estrogen on breast cancer cells.

3.As an adjunct: Drug-castration is often used in combination with other methods (e.g., hormones, chemotherapy, targeting, etc.) to achieve better results.

For breast cancer patients under 35 years of ageIt is the period when ovarian function is strong, and ovarian castration can reduce estrogen levels in the body, slow down or inhibit the growth and metastasis of breast cancer, and can better help increase the efficacy of endocrine **, but it is precisely because ovarian function is young and strong, so castration may be incomplete, so hormone monitoring may be required.

However, for young breast cancer patients, ovarian castration may have a certain impact on fertility and quality of life, so when considering the use of ovarian castration, it is necessary to consider age, fertility intentions, ** needs, and potential adverse effects. Protocols need to be developed under the guidance of a physician to ensure that the most appropriate approach for the patient is chosen.

For patients who have already entered menopause or post-menopauseIf the ovarian function has continued to decline, and the hormone secretion is not as strong as when it was young, then drug castration is easier to be completely complete than in young patients, but the effect may not be as obvious as that in young patients.

Breast cancer receptor negativity means that breast cancer cells do not express estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR), and it also means that they do not rely on estrogen or progesterone to stimulate growth. In this case, ovarian castration may not have a direct benefit on breast cancer, and for breast cancer receptor-negative patients, the regimen will usually focus on other methods such as chemotherapy, targeting, radiotherapy, etc.

Pharmacological castration reduces the production of estrogen by inhibiting ovarian function, which may lead to temporary infertility, which has a certain protective effect on ovarian function and can also help improve the efficacy of endocrine **. However, the speed and extent of this recovery varies from person to person, and some patients may face long-term fertility difficulties or even the risk of permanent infertility.

Therefore, the use of drug castration needs to be carefully considered for young breast cancer patients, especially those who wish to preserve fertility. You need to be guided by your doctor to fully understand the benefits and risks of castration, as well as other possible options, in order to make the decision that is best for you.

Related Pages