Types of hormonal therapy

page_title_detailed

About Breast Cancer>Treatments>Hormonal therapy>Types of hormonal therapy > Megestrol acetate

Megestrol acetate

general_content

Megestrol acetate is a progestin hormonal therapy. Progestins are human-made medicines that act like the natural hormone progesterone.

Megestrol acetate is the only FDA approved medicine in this class that is used to treat metastatic breast cancer or its symptoms. In addition to treating the cancer, megestrol acetate can be used to help grow your appetite.

on_this_page

On this page

general_content

How megestrol acetate works

This medicine is a human-made form of the hormone progesterone. It works to counteract some of the negative effects of estrogen, a hormone that helps hormone receptor-positive breast cancers grow.

Back to top
general_content

Who gets megestrol acetate

Megestrol acetate is given to women with metastatic breast cancer that continued to grow despite treatment with other hormonal therapies.

Back to top
general_content

How megestrol acetate is given

Megestrol acetate is given as a pill or as liquid, usually once per day, but it may also be given in smaller doses to be taken at regular times during the day.

Back to top
general_content

Side effects and things to remember

Possible side effects are:

Megestrol acetate increases the risk of blood clots. Call your doctor right away if you have sudden swelling in your leg, or shortness of breath and chest pain.

Back to top
related_resources_article_carousel

Related resources

Targeted therapy for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer

10/14/24 | BY: Sameer Gupta, Pallav K. Mehta

Targeted therapies are treatments that target specific proteins or markers on or within cancer cells that help cancer cells grow. There are many different kinds of targeted therapy, including CDK 4/6 inhibitors.

Read More
 | 12 Min. Read |

Treatment for metastatic breast cancer

10/14/24 | BY: Douglas Yee, Pallav K. Mehta

The goal of metastatic breast cancer treatment is to manage the disease while limiting side effects. Learn about available treatments and when they are used.

Read More
 | 22 Min. Read |

Clinical trials for MBC

09/26/24 | BY: Pallav K. Mehta

There are many reasons you might change treatments for metastatic breast cancer. If you and your doctors find that one medicine isn’t right for you anymore, you’ll talk about other therapies that are available.

Read More
 | 7 Min. Read |

Ribociclib

09/18/24 | BY: Sameer Gupta

Ribociclib (Kisqali), a targeted therapy, is the second CDK 4/6 inhibitor to be approved by the FDA. It targets two specific kinases, or enzymes, that help tumor cells grow and divide.

Read More
 | 6 Min. Read |

Diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer

07/29/24 | BY: Saveri Bhattacharya

Hearing the words “You have metastatic breast cancer, and you will need ongoing treatment” can be traumatic. On this page, we’ll help you begin to make sense of your diagnosis, treatment options, and sources of support.

Read More
 | 18 Min. Read |

Metastatic trial search

06/21/24

Use this tool to find metastatic breast cancer trials across the United States.

Read More

HER2-Positive MBC

05/24/24 | BY: Pallav K. Mehta

Learn more about metastatic breast cancer that is HER2-positive and how it can be treated with targeted therapy.

Read More
 | 7 Min. Read |

PET Scan

05/03/24 | BY: Sophia R. O'Brien

A PET scan is an imaging test used to detect cancer throughout the body. They are not used to screen for breast cancer, but can help you and your healthcare team make decisions about treatment.

Read More
 | 8 Min. Read |

Tests for metastatic breast cancer

04/17/24 | BY: Debu Tripathy

Many different tests can be involved in a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis. These tests can confirm the extent of the cancer and determine the most effective treatments.

Read More
 | 11 Min. Read |

Capivasertib

02/03/24 | BY: Sameer Gupta

Capivasertib (Truqap) is a targeted therapy used to treat hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancers that test positive for certain gene mutations

Read More
 | 9 Min. Read |
stay_connected

Stay connected

Sign up to receive emotional support, medical insight, personal stories, and more, delivered to your inbox weekly.

about_this_page_tabbed_module
About this page
Glossary
About LBBC

Reviewed and updated: August 31, 2015

Reviewed by: Jennifer Winn, MD, MS

Tagged:

Was this page helpful?

Living Beyond Breast Cancer is a national nonprofit organization that seeks to create a world that understands there is more than one way to have breast cancer. To fulfill its mission of providing trusted information and a community of support to those impacted by the disease, Living Beyond Breast Cancer offers on-demand emotional, practical, and evidence-based content. For over 30 years, the organization has remained committed to creating a culture of acceptance — where sharing the diversity of the lived experience of breast cancer fosters self-advocacy and hope. For more information, learn more about our programs and services.