Experts in Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer in Northern California
A breast cancer tumor that has a receptor for estrogen or progesterone is referred to as hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Some breast cancers have receptors for both estrogen and progesterone. These types of cancers grow in response to these hormones and can be treated effectively with hormone therapy.
At Dignity Health North State, your oncology specialist will identify the hormone receptor status of your breast cancer to determine the most effective treatment. Find a Doctor online who’s experienced in diagnosing hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in Northern California.
Diagnosing Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer
A timely diagnosis begins with recognizing the symptoms. A mammogram can detect breast tumors early, so visit your doctor at the first signs of breast cancer, which include:
- A lump in the breast
- Swelling of the breast
- Changes in the size, shape, or appearance of your breast or nipple
- Nipple discharge
After careful evaluation of your symptoms, a quality biopsy will determine if your hormones are causing your cancer’s growth. In some cases, your doctor may have to remove the tumor before it can be examined for its hormone receptor status.
Treating Estrogen Receptor Positive Breast Cancer at Dignity Health North State
Compared to tumors that aren’t affected by hormones, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer grows more slowly. A common treatment for ER-positive breast cancer is hormonal therapy, which lowers the amount of estrogen in your body or completely blocks estrogen from attaching to the tumor’s cells. Hormone therapy is also an effective treatment for progesterone positive breast cancer.
In addition to hormone therapy, our full-fledged cancer centers offer other standard cancer treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted drug therapy.
Correctly identifying the hormone receptor status is part of a quality diagnosis at Dignity Health North State. You can rely on our compassionate and experienced oncologists to explain your diagnosis and how it well affect your personalized treatment.