Sexual and endocrine therapy Hormone therapy can be applied to treat breast and endometrial cancers. This treatment works by making tumors that depend on hormones for growth hormonally deficient. Hormone therapy can use drugs. For example, tamoxifen can treat breast cancer by preventing breast cancer cells from using estrogen. Exemestane, anastrozole and letrozole can treat breast cancer by blocking the conversion of androgens to estrogen. In some patients, the function of the ovaries to release estrogen is lost by removing or radiating the ovaries. This is another way to keep the tumor from getting the hormones it needs to grow. Any kind of hormone treatment can cause menopausal symptoms. These include hot flashes, irregular menstruation and vaginal dryness. Despite these changes, female patients can still have sexual desire and orgasms. Sexual intercourse during endocrine therapy does not cause an increase in estrogen levels in the body.