The Duke Cancer Institute offers a range of therapies to help our breast cancer patients become cancer-free. Even if the surgeon removes all of the cancer that can be seen at the time of surgery, a patient may be given radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or endocrine (hormone-blocking) therapy after surgery to try to kill any cancer cells that may be left.

Hormones are substances produced by glands in the body and circulated in the bloodstream. The presence of some hormones can cause certain cancers to grow.

Endocrine therapy is used in certain cancers that have receptors that respond to the hormones estrogen and progesterone. The drugs used in endocrine therapy block these receptors and can prevent cancer from returning or spreading or prevent the body from producing these hormones.

Appointments

Learn how to make an appointment at the Duke Cancer Institute.