Breast cancer, a name that does sound like a renegade general in the body, is free to do as it pleases and is not directed. But let us not be afraid that, in addition to surgery and chemotherapy, we have in our hands a “sweet guardian” — endocrinotherapy — which, instead of playing around, slowly leads breast cancer cells back to the right path with wisdom and patience.
1. Imagine that our body is a great kingdom, and that every cell is a resident of that kingdom, each responsible for its own work and for maintaining its order together. Sometimes, however, there are cells that begin to “disturb” and that do not follow the direction of the body, and they begin to grow endlessly, and these “disturbing” cells are cancer cells. In the female body kingdom, the breast is a very important department, which is responsible for the distribution of milk and the nutrition of newborns. But when the mammogram cell is “distorted,” it turns into breast cancer. These “rebel generals” not only do not listen to command but also rob the body of its resources and disrupt its balance.
Secondly, in the face of these “rebel generals”, we can’t fight hard because that could hurt the rest of the body. So, we’ve got the “Sweet Guardian” – Endocrine treatment. Endocrine treatment is like finding a “wise man” for the realm of the body, which does not work directly against the “rebel general”, but rather uses wisdom to convince them.
As we know, many breast cancer cells live on estrogen, like the assistant to the Rebel General, without estrogen, they can’t survive. Therefore, endocrine treatment serves as an estrogen’s “A Messenger of Peace”. In the case of female patients before and after menopausal, endocrinic treatment uses drugs such as his mosaics, which are like “false estrogens”, which occupy the estrogen receptor position on the surface of breast cancer cells, do not allow the real estrogens to be combined with those receptors, and which are like the breakage of the “rebel general”.
In post-menopausal women, estrogen is mainly transformed by tissues outside their ovaries, such as estrogen from adrenal gland. This process is assisted by an enzyme called aromatic enzymes. As a result, endocrine treatment became the “roadblock” of aromatic enzymes. It inhibits aromatic enzyme activity with drugs such as curvature, anacara, etc., which reduces the transformation of the male hormone to estrogen, thus further reducing the estrogen level in the body. It is like setting a number of hurdles on the path necessary for a “rebel general” to gain access to resources.
Endocrine treatment is not something that can be solved overnight. It is more like a protracted war. Because cancer cells are crafty, they change and find new ways of survival. Endocrine treatment therefore needs to be continued and strategies adjusted to ensure that the “rebel general” is tamed.
As with the rotation of soldiers in combat, endocrinology treatments also have to rotate drugs. Because of the long-term use of the same drug, cancer cells may produce resistance, as if they had found a way to crack the drug. Therefore, doctors are flexible in adjusting the types and doses of drugs to the actual situation of the patient in order to ensure that the treatment works best. Endocrine treatment also depends on surgery for patients with more serious conditions. For example, for pre-menopausal women, if the condition is serious, ovarian decomposition can be considered, i.e. ovarian removal or ovarian suppression with medication to reduce estrogen levels in the body. It is like a direct attack on the territory of the Rebel General, weakening their power.
“Careful tip” for endocrine treatment
Although endocrine treatment is very effective, it also has some side effects. For example, the long-term use of his mosaics can lead to discomfort, nausea, vomiting, etc., while the use of aromatic enzymes inhibitors can exacerbate osteoporosis. Thus, in the course of endocrine treatment, patients are required to visit the hospital regularly to monitor their physical condition and the effectiveness of the treatment. At the same time, patients have to maintain a good mindset and living habits. Because mentalities and living habits are also important for the recovery of disease. It is as important as the morale and combat of a soldier in a war. Patients should therefore actively cooperate with the doctor ‘ s treatment programme, maintaining an optimistic mindset and good living habits.
Breast cancer, though terrible, can coexist with it as long as we find the right cure. Endocrine treatment is like our “sweet guardian” who uses wisdom and patience to convince the “rebel generals” that we can regain a healthy body and life. So we need not fear and despair in the face of breast cancer, and so long as the patient is able to follow the doctor’s treatment programme, it is possible to overcome this challenge!
