The Different Types of Breast Cancer, Explained

Breast Cancer Hormone Status

Cells from breast cancer will be extracted during surgery to remove the tumor or during a biopsy so they can be sent to a laboratory and examined by a pathologist under a microscope and tested to see if they contain progesterone or estrogen receptors. These receptors on cancerous breast cancer cells provide a way for progesterone and estrogen to fuel the growth of the tumor. Malignant breast tumors containing estrogen receptors are referred to as ER-positive breast cancers. Malignant breast tumors with progesterone receptors are referred to as PR-positive breast cancers. The term hormone receptor-positive breast cancer refers to any malignancy with one or both receptors for progesterone and estrogen. The term hormone receptor-negative breast cancer refers to a malignancy with no receptors for estrogen or progesterone. Information regarding breast cancer hormone status is extremely helpful when determining how to treat a patient's breast cancer. Certain hormone therapy drugs can be utilized to reduce the estrogen levels or block the estrogen from acting on breast cancer cells in most hormone receptor-positive tumors.

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