Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy is generally used after surgery to prevent the growth, spread, and recurrence of breast cancer. Because the female hormone estrogen can increase the growth of breast cancer cells in some women, an antiestrogen drug is sometimes given.

The antiestrogen drug tamoxifen blocks the effects of estrogen on the growth of malignant cells in breast tissue without stopping the production of estrogen. Tamoxifen is effective in both pre-a nd post-menopausal women.

Drugs recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), called aromatase inhibitors, are used to prevent the recurrence of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. These drugs, such as anastrozole, letrozole, and exemestane, prevent estrogen production.

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