Side Effects of Hormonal Therapy

As with every choice we make in life, there are pros and cons to each type of hormonal therapy. It's sometimes easier to choose when you can see the different options side by side.

The side effects of hormonal therapy differ among categories of drugs, although all of the hormonal drugs have some side effects in common. Some side effects can be few and brief, mild and manageable (although annoying). Other side effects may be serious. Benefits, risks, and personal comfort all have to be factored into the treatment choice that you and your doctor make.

The comparison table below gives you a general view of what you might expect in terms of side effects. The rest of this section goes into more detail.

Treatment-Specific Side Effects

Type of Treatment	Side Effects
Tamoxifen	Increased risk of uterine cancer (< 1% of women) Increased risk of blood clots and cataracts (< 1% of women) Increased risk of stroke (< 1% of women) Fertility issues
Aromatase inhibitors	Weakens bones Some medications increase cholesterol levels Increased risk of blood clots Some products may causes upset stomach or sweating
ERDs	Weakens bones Swelling at injection site Possible stomach symptoms, headache, back pain
Ovarian shutdown/ removal	Weakens bones Causes infertility (irreversible)

Side Effects Common to All Treatments

(Not all women experience all these side effects)

• Mood swings
• Depression
• Weight gain
• Hot flashes
• Vaginal dryness
• Bloating
• Early start of menopause (may be reversed)
• "Flare reaction" or burning pain in bones (metastatic cancer only)

Talk to your doctor about balancing the various side effects with the benefits you can achieve with hormonal therapy. In order to figure out your options, you and your doctor will have to consider the nature and extent of the cancer, your medical condition, menopausal status, and other treatments you have taken or are taking now. It may take more than one session to come to a decision about whether you wish to begin hormonal therapy, and if so, what type is right for you.

Start this discussion with the doctor who knows you best. A medical oncologist usually has the most expertise in the area of hormonal therapy. Whatever your decision right now about taking hormonal treatments, it's a good idea to keep reviewing with your doctor, over time, all of the medications you are taking.

In this section you'll learn more about:

• Side effects common to all hormonal therapies
• Side effects of tamoxifen
• Side effects of aromatase inhibitors
• Side effects of ERDs
• Side effects of ovarian shutdown/removal