ER negative

ER Negative is a term used in oncology to describe a type of breast cancer that does not have receptors for estrogen. This type of cancer is less likely to respond to hormone therapy but may be treated with other types of cancer treatment.

Overview

Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. The breast is made up of lobes and ducts. Each breast has 15 to 20 sections called lobes, which have many smaller sections called lobules. Lobules end in dozens of tiny bulbs that can produce milk. The lobes, lobules, and bulbs are linked by thin tubes called ducts.

One of the ways that doctors classify breast cancer is by determining whether or not the cancer cells have receptors for estrogen and progesterone, two hormones that can promote the growth of breast cancer cells. If the cancer cells have these receptors, the cancer is referred to as ER positive (estrogen receptor positive) or PR positive (progesterone receptor positive). If the cancer cells do not have these receptors, the cancer is referred to as ER negative or PR negative.

ER Negative Breast Cancer

ER negative breast cancer is a type of breast cancer that does not have receptors for the hormone estrogen. This means that the cancer cells do not receive signals from estrogen that could promote their growth. Because of this, ER negative breast cancers are less likely to respond to hormone therapy, a type of treatment that works by blocking the body's ability to produce hormones or by interfering with the effects of hormones on cancer cells.

However, ER negative breast cancers can be treated with other types of cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapy. The choice of treatment depends on many factors, including the size and location of the tumor, the stage of the cancer, the patient's overall health, and the patient's personal preferences.

Treatment Options

Treatment options for ER negative breast cancer may include:

• Chemotherapy: This is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing.

• Radiation therapy: This is a type of cancer treatment that uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing.

• Targeted therapy: This is a type of treatment that uses drugs or other substances to identify and attack specific cancer cells without harming normal cells.

See Also

• Breast cancer
• Estrogen receptor
• Progesterone receptor
• Hormone therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Targeted therapy

ER negative Resources
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