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The Importance of Plumbing in Your Home
Apex Plumbing is a complex system of pipes, valves and fixtures that convey water, gas and waste within buildings. Plumbers primarily work on the installation, repair and maintenance of these systems to ensure clean water supply and effective drainage.
It is a physically demanding job that requires manual dexterity and good interpersonal skills. It is also a trade that requires extensive licensing.
The plumbing system is an essential network of pipes and fixtures that transports water and waste in houses and buildings. Its two primary objectives are to supply clean, potable water and remove wastewater in a safe manner. The installation process requires knowledge of local building codes and regulations, as well as adherence to best practices for safety and efficiency.
A professional plumber will start by inspecting the existing piping in a new construction. He or she will then lay out a plan for the location of new fixtures and the routing of pipes, taking into account their capacity to accommodate anticipated usage demands. This will ensure the system meets both functionality and aesthetic requirements.
After establishing the layout, a plumber will install the piping system. This may involve trenching and digging to accommodate underground piping, or running new piping through interior walls and floors. A quality plumber will make sure all connections are tight and secure, and will test for leaks afterward.
Plumbing systems also include appliances and devices for heating and cooling water, as well as draining waste water. The latter includes septic tanks and sewer lines, which require careful consideration of the location of the tank and its capacity to handle waste. Choosing the right pipe materials is crucial, as are making informed decisions about insulation and drainage options.
Once the pipes are in place, a plumber will connect them to fixtures such as sinks, toilets, and showers. He or she will then install appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines. In some cases, a plumber will need to install an additional line for hot water to reach the desired locations.
Plumbing work must adhere to local building codes, which are set by individual provinces and territories. These codes ensure uncontaminated drinking water and proper waste management, as well as protect people from the risks of infection and injury. Moreover, they provide the basis for regulating plumbing work practices, materials, and components to safeguard public health and safety. In addition, they encourage energy efficiency and environmental conservation through the use of eco-friendly materials and design practices.
Repair
A plumbing system is a network of pipes, fixtures, and appliances that bring clean water into buildings and remove waste and sewage. It’s important for human health and comfort, but it can also be dangerous if it malfunctions. Regular maintenance and professional repairs can help reduce the risk of problems.
Plumbers repair many different kinds of plumbing issues. Some common problems include clogged drains and toilets, leaky faucets and pipes, and low water pressure. Most of these issues are simple and easy to fix, but some require expert knowledge or tools. Professional plumbers have the skills and tools to diagnose and repair even the most complex problems.
Pipes often need repair or replacement as they age. They can develop cracks or rupture, especially if they’re made of old or weak materials. Leaking or burst pipes need to be fixed right away to avoid flooding and water damage.
If you think you have a pipe problem, turn off your water supply and take a look at the pipes themselves. You may be able to spot the leak from the outside of your home, but if it’s inside the walls, you’ll need to remove sections of the wall to find and repair the leak.
Plumbers can also replace or repair showerheads, faucets, and drains. If you have a dripping faucet, it’s worth fixing as soon as possible because the drips can add up to a lot of water loss over time. A leaking toilet is another issue that needs to be repaired immediately because it could flood the entire floor and cause significant water damage. To prevent these issues, you can invest in a high-quality water filter for your home. This will prevent dirt, dust, and other contaminants from entering your water and causing damage or affecting your health. It’s a good idea to hire a professional to install or repair these devices because they know what kind of materials are used in the system and can ensure that all parts are working properly.
Maintenance
The plumbing system in your home does a lot of work every day, bringing fresh water in for use, running hot water from washing machines and dishwashers, and flushing waste out into the sewer system. For this reason, it’s important to maintain your plumbing by checking and cleaning it regularly. This will help prevent problems, such as clogs and leaks, from developing, which can be expensive to fix. It will also ensure that your plumbing is working efficiently, saving you money on your energy bills.
Plumbers are trained to inspect, repair, and install pipes, fixtures, and appliances such as sinks, toilets, showers, and water heaters. They can interpret blueprints and building codes to plan plumbing installations, and they use specialized tools to detect and repair issues such as leaks and clogs. Plumbers often work on plumbing systems in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.
Regular inspections and maintenance can help extend the life of your plumbing systems and reduce your utility bills. Leaky faucets, dripping toilets, and slow drains can all add up to expensive repairs over time. By catching these issues early on, you can save yourself a lot of money and stress.
Plumbing maintenance also helps improve the quality of your water. By detecting and removing sediment, bacteria, and mineral deposits, your plumbing system can provide you with clean, healthy water for drinking, cooking, and bathing. It can also help prevent diseases caused by contaminated water.
During plumbing maintenance, plumbers can also check your water softener to see if it’s working properly. These devices are designed to remove corrosive minerals from your water, which can cause clogs and pipe damage over time. By having your water softener checked regularly, you can keep your plumbing system in good condition and reduce the risk of costly repairs or replacements.
Replacement
A plumbing system provides a vital service: it delivers clean, safe water and removes waste. While many homeowners assume their home’s pipes and fixtures will function indefinitely, the reality is that these systems require regular maintenance and can sometimes need to be replaced. When this occurs, it is important to consult with a qualified plumbing professional to ensure that the new components will be compatible with your home’s existing system and meet all local codes.
Signs that it might be time to replace your home’s plumbing include discolored or tasteless water, a loss of water pressure, and leaks around fixtures. Additionally, older homes may need to have their drain, waste, and vent lines replaced to improve efficiency.
Plumbing professionals can provide valuable advice on the latest products and technologies, including eco-friendly options like low-flow faucets, toilets, and shower heads. They can also help you save money by installing energy-efficient water heaters and appliances. These simple steps can significantly reduce your home’s energy bills and environmental impact. In addition to promoting sustainability, working with a plumber can help you avoid costly repairs down the road by identifying issues before they become serious problems. Investing in a plumber’s services can keep your home’s plumbing running smoothly for years to come.
Future-Proofing the Military Humvee
After decades of whisking soldiers across vast expanses of sand and urban taxi duty in the world’s most dangerous cities, the Humvee is still the military vehicle of choice. The JLTV may be optimized for the next big fight, but for now the services will continue to buy tens of thousands of Humvees. For more information, click the link https://www.streetlegalexports.com/ provided to proceed.
HISTORY
For decades, the military Humvee has conquered foreign battlefields and suburban soccer fields alike. Today, however, it faces a major crossroads. With gas prices sky high and warfare evolving, does this iconic vehicle still fulfill the military and civilian missions for which it was designed?
In 1983, the Army began looking for a replacement for its jeeps. At the time, they were past their prime and unable to handle a growing roster of weapons and communications equipment. Several manufacturers responded with prototypes, but AM General’s design — later called the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, or HMMWV — stood out from the rest. It was long enough to carry more soldiers, tall enough to drive over 60″ of water yet squatty and stable enough to resist tipping in extreme off-road conditions, powerful enough to haul weapons and support a crew, and capable of resisting small arms fire and roadside improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
The HMMWV won the contract and entered service in 1985. It soon proved its worth in the Gulf War and the invasion of Panama, and it served in front-line duty throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. While the Army has since begun replacing Humvees in front-line service with the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, it’s important to note that its many roles will continue for decades.
Humvees are highly customizable and can easily transform into cargo haulers, troop transport vehicles, or field ambulances. Depending on the need, they can even be equipped with different powertrains and drivelines for specific tasks. In addition, they’re easy to maintain and repair with common parts. Despite their ruggedness, they’re not as impervious to damage as some might think. That’s why it’s crucial to understand what the pitfalls are when buying one.
PERFORMANCE
The military humvee (abbreviated as HMMWV or Hummer) is a four-wheel drive workhorse for our nation’s fighting forces. The vehicle largely replaced original jeeps and other military light utility vehicles, and it’s been used in every war since the Persian Gulf War in 1991. In fact, the military still uses thousands of HMMWVs worldwide, and they’re constantly looking at ways to make them safer and faster than ever.
In 1979 the Army issued a draft specification for an entirely new military vehicle to replace its aging jeeps. They awarded contracts to AM General, Chrysler Defense and Teledyne Continental for the design of prototypes that could withstand the demands of the modern battlefield. The resulting HMMWV, nicknamed the Humvee, was a massive success. It’s a tough, versatile vehicle that’s used across the globe, and it’s inspired countless civilian-grade spinoffs like the Hummer H1.
One of the biggest problems that has plagued the military humvee is its inability to withstand roadside bombs. A new version of the vehicle addressed this issue, but it also made the humvee much heavier. The end result was a vehicle that was less capable off-road, and it took longer than expected to get up to speed on the highway.
The current generation of HMMWVs is a lot better at handling roadside bombs and other threats than its predecessors, but the military is always looking for ways to improve it. It’s already working on a hybrid-electric light tactical vehicle that it hopes will be more powerful than the Humvee and easier to maintain. The HUMVEE Charge utilizes Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) technology to combine a traditional internal combustion engine with an electric motor and battery pack.
POWER
The military Humvee has served the Army well for years, but it’s starting to look a little long in the tooth. As field equipment, armor and gunnery have evolved to the point where a fully-loaded HMMWV can easily tip the scales at double its original design weight, that 115 horsepower suddenly seems a bit lacking. That’s why the hot-rodders at Banks Power in Southern California are introducing an electrified diesel Humvee powertrain that they think can future-proof this iconic light utility vehicle.
Back when it first went on sale, the Army’s HMMWV—a mouthful of consonants that even irreverent GIs couldn’t pronounce without sounding like a bad episode of The Office—was a formidable beast. It could smash miles of desert with ease, and it looked so cool that civilians couldn’t get enough of it as well.
But then the battlefield began to evolve, and the Humvee’s greatest challenge wasn’t the desert but paved city streets. The truck’s aluminum body might have looked tough but it was a paperweight in the face of small arms fire and roadside improvised explosive devices.
So in 1979, the Army issued a request for proposal to develop a new tactical vehicle that could take on the demands of a changing battlefield. AM General, Chrysler Defense and Teledyne Continental submitted design proposals, and after rigorous testing and revisions, the Army awarded them contracts to build prototypes of a new High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle—what we now know as the Humvee. The vehicles were designed to be quickly configurable into three different configurations: weapon carrier, utility vehicle and field ambulance. They could be slung from the back of C-130 Hercules transport aircraft or dropped by helicopter. They were also designed to be easily transported between bases, with a full-sized one capable of fitting inside the cargo hold of a C-5A Galaxy transport plane.
COMFORT
HMMWVs have a very spartan interior with few creature comforts such as air conditioning. It is important for military humvees to be able to carry a lot of equipment and to be able to take a beating from enemy fire, which is why they are not designed for comfort. They are not very comfortable to drive on smooth roads either. The suspension is pretty harsh and you will likely need to visit a chiropractor regularly after driving one for long periods of time.
However, if you are looking for a comfortable ride on the highway or off-road, you can add a soft top or some aftermarket shocks. The Humvee has huge 37-inch tires that will help to cushion the blow from rough terrain. These tires are also able to provide traction on slippery surfaces. The Humvee is also designed to be a high-riding vehicle, which will help it to better avoid damage from roadside bombs or other obstacles.
The Humvee is very easy to maintain, with 15 configurations sharing a common engine and chassis and 44 parts that can be used in multiple positions. This makes it easier to train mechanics on the vehicles and reduces maintenance costs. It also scores high marks on the Army’s Reliability, Availability and Maintainability (RAM-D) ratings.
If you want to buy a military humvee, it’s best to check with your local Department of Motor Vehicles to find out what your state’s laws are regarding this type of vehicle. You will probably need to have a special license plate to be able to legally drive it on the highways. You may also need to find out if there are any restrictions when it comes to driving them off-road.
VALUE
Military Humvees are a great investment because they’re durable, reliable, and can last for a long time if maintained properly. They can also handle a lot of rough weather and terrain, making them perfect for off-road driving. However, like any other vehicle, it’s important to know what you’re getting into before you decide to invest in one. Depending on how you plan to use it, a military Humvee will require a significant amount of maintenance and can be expensive to own.
Unless you’re a member of the Army, Navy, or Air Force, buying a military humvee as a civilian is going to be pretty difficult. You’ll need to jump through a lot of hoops to get it street legal, and even then you’ll probably be limited to using it on private property and off-road trails. Fortunately, there are some companies that specialize in helping people buy and legally register Humvees.
To avoid the hassle and expense of buying a military humvee as an individual, you can always choose to purchase a military surplus one from an auction site. These vehicles are a little more affordable, but you’ll still need to jump through a lot of hoops before you can drive it on public roads. In addition, you’ll need to budget for a lot of additional expenses such as repairs, insurance, and fuel.
Sanding Strategies: Techniques for Hardwood Floor Refinishing
Hardwood Floor Refinishing NJ is a straightforward process that breathes new life into your hardwood floors. It involves sanding the surface of the wood to remove scratches, nicks, and discoloration, then applying a stain and finish coat.
Stains come in various colors and can be darkened or lightened to fit your taste. The topcoat, also called varnish, can be oil- or water-based.
Unlike the process of resurfacing, which can only hide existing blemishes, refinishing actually changes the appearance of your hardwood floors. Refinishing exposes the raw wood underneath and, with multiple passes of finer grit, creates a smooth, even surface that is ready to accept a new stain. Depending on the color you choose, this can dramatically alter the overall look of your home.
Before refinishing, it’s important to prepare the floors. This includes cleaning the floors and filling in any holes or gouges with wood filler. It’s also a good time to repaint the baseboard, if necessary.
Specialized equipment is used to sand away the existing finish, revealing the raw, bare wood underneath. The process typically starts with a coarse sanding disk and then moves to a medium grit and finally a fine sanding. It’s critical to keep the sanding machine moving at all times, as stopping or remaining in one spot will leave noticeable swales in your floors.
After the sanding process, the floors are vacuumed and thoroughly cleaned to remove any dirt, oils, or debris. The floor may also be buffed with a buffer to smooth the sanded surface and eliminate any scratches or nicks that were left behind.
This is also a good opportunity to apply a second coat of stain, if desired. It’s best to use a low-VOC stain to reduce the amount of VOCs that are released into the air.
It’s also a good idea to reapply any needed wood filler and wait for it to dry completely before sanding again and applying a final coat of finish. It’s best to have a professional apply the finish, as it requires several steps and can be very tricky. A high-quality finish will protect your hardwood floors and increase their value. Refinishing your hardwood floors is a wise investment for any homeowner, and it usually pays for itself in increased home value upon sale. However, it’s a major undertaking and should only be done when the rooms are vacant. This helps prevent the need to move furniture around and protects your belongings from the odor that many finishes give off during application.
Power Sanding
Hardwood floors are not immortal, and they will eventually reach the end of their lifespan. It is best to refinish the hardwood floors before they completely wear away. Some signs that it is time to refinish are fading or darkening of the existing wood, or a loss of the top polyurethane layer.
Refinishing is a multi-step process that involves sanding, staining and finishing. Ideally, it should be done by professionals who have the proper training and experience to ensure that the job is performed correctly. The first step is sanding the existing floor. This is accomplished by using special equipment that sands the top layer of the wood, revealing the raw, bare wood underneath. The sanding will also remove any scratches, nicks and discoloration from the surface of the wood. The floor will be cleaned after the sanding is completed, and then the new finish is applied.
The stain is what gives the cedar, oak or other type of wood its color. There are many different colors available, and the homeowner can choose the shade that they like best. The stain is then followed by a top coat, which is typically either an oil-based or water-based varnish that protects the wood from moisture and wear.
Once the stain has been applied and dried, it is a good idea to buff the floor to give it its final shine and smoothness. This will also help to make the finish look as durable and long-lasting as possible.
While it is possible for homeowners to refinish their own hardwood floors, this should be done only with the proper equipment and knowledge of the process. Many common mistakes can be made, including removing too much of the old finish before starting to sand, or not sanding all the areas of the floor that need it. Another common mistake is not cleaning the existing finish thoroughly before beginning the sanding.
Lastly, it is important to use the right products for refinishing and staining. Using the wrong product can cause problems that are expensive to fix. Ideally, the stain should be an oil-based product to make it as durable as possible, and the top coat should be either an oil or water-based varnish.
Hand Sanding
A buffed and polished hardwood floor adds timeless elegance to any home. But as time goes on, the finish may become scratched or worn. When this happens, refinishing the wood is often a more cost-effective and longer-lasting solution than replacement.
Before refinishing, the floors must be prepared. This involves cleaning, repairing and patching damaged areas. This also includes removing baseboards so that the sanding machine can reach all the way up to them. For older homes, this may involve the removal of nails and screws that are holding boards in place. Then, the floors must be vacuumed thoroughly to remove dust and debris.
Once the floors are clean, they can be sanded with either a buffer or a square sander. Both of these machines will allow you to get very close to the walls and should work well on both old and new flooring. They require a lot of power and you’ll want to wear appropriate safety gear like gloves, ear protection and a respirator.
When sanding, always sand with the grain of the wood. This will help prevent scratches. Start with 36 grit and move up to higher grits as needed for the job. You’ll also need to use an edge sander for corners and edges that your main sanding machine won’t be able to reach.
Before sanding, consider whether or not to use gap filler to cover any gaps between boards. If the gaps are small and in a corner of a room where they’re not likely to be seen, it may not be necessary. Otherwise, filler should be used with caution because different woods react to it differently and it can be difficult to match the color of the filler to that of the surrounding boards.
Once the sanding is complete, the floors can be stain. It’s a good idea to consult with a professional to make sure the color you choose is the right one for your home.
Staining allows for more flexibility than resurfacing because you can choose to hide imperfections and create a look that’s completely unique. But before you choose a color, remember that different woods respond to stains differently and may need to be stained several times to achieve the desired look.
Block Sanding
Hardwood floors give any home a clean, classic look that never goes out of style. They last 25-100 years with proper care and can be refinished multiple times. Refinishing is a great way to give your floor a facelift and breathe new life into it.
Refinishing is more extensive than resurfacing, and requires special equipment. The process involves sanding the hardwood floors down and then staining them. It’s a lengthy process, and will take several days to complete.
The wood type and stain you use will play a big role in the appearance of your floors. The best stains are oil-based and low VOC (volatile organic compound). You’ll also want to choose a polyurethane finish, which can be either oil or water-based. Water-based is easier to work with and dries faster, but it doesn’t have as much durability as an oil-based finish.
It’s important to wear appropriate safety gear like gloves and a respirator during the sanding process. Also, make sure you have plenty of space to move the sanding machine around.
Block sanding is done by placing the sandpaper onto the sanding blocks and moving them across the surface of the hardwood flooring. The paper should be a coarse grade, such as 40 to 80 grit. It is important to change the sandpaper often as it can become worn out easily, especially in areas of the room where there is more foot traffic.
When using a block sander, it is best to move the sandpaper in a crossing pattern. This will help you to avoid missing any spots and get a nice, even sanding. It is also a good idea to knock off any loose particles of the sandpaper from time to time and to clean the blocks. This will ensure that you are getting the best possible sanding job.
If your hardwood floors have significant scratches, gouges or dents that can’t be fixed by refinishing or polishing, then they may need to be replaced altogether. A professional will be able to advise you on this.
Generally, refinishing is a better option than replacing your hardwood floors. Refinishing will extend the life of your wood flooring, and will also allow you to customize the look of your home. By refinishing your hardwood floors, you can transform the entire look of your home, and will be able to hide imperfections in the wood.
Hormone Therapy For Cancer
Hormones are chemicals created in your body that control many functions, including how your cells grow and what you feel. Hormone therapy changes the amount of hormones in your bloodstream.
Healthcare providers use hormone therapy to treat cancer that depends on estrogen or progesterone to grow, such as breast cancer and uterine cancer. They also use it to reduce the chance of cancer recurring after surgery and to treat metastatic cancer. Contact Hormone Therapy San Diego now!
Hormone therapy can stop cancerous cells from getting the hormones they need to grow and multiply. It may also prevent cancer from spreading, or help it spread less quickly after other treatments. The type of cancer, how far the cancer has spread, and your personal health history are factors that influence which type of hormone therapy you receive.
Medications used for hormone therapy can be given by mouth or by injection. They can be taken for a set amount of time or until you get the results you want from your treatment, depending on the type of cancer you have. Your healthcare team will help you find the best way to take your medications and answer any questions you might have.
Oral hormone therapy is often recommended for people who have ovarian cancer or breast cancer that has spread to the ovaries or uterus. This treatment can be given before surgery and radiation therapy to shrink a tumor, or after those treatments are done. Hormone therapy can be given by mouth or by injection, and it can be taken for a set amount of months or for as long as you want to take it.
Many types of hormone therapy can cause menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats. These side effects are more common for women than for men. For some people, hormone therapy can lead to low sex drive or problems reaching an orgasm. If you have a medical condition like heart disease, blood clots, liver disease or high blood pressure, your healthcare team will talk with you about how the hormone therapy you are receiving might affect your risk for these conditions.
Some types of hormone therapy are used for noncancerous conditions that affect the uterus or ovaries, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Feminizing hormone therapy is typically used for transgender women and nonbinary people. It uses medication that blocks the action of male hormones, which then triggers feminine secondary sex characteristics to develop. The hormones estrogen and progestin are usually used in this treatment. This type of hormone therapy is sometimes called feminizing hormone replacement therapy or gender-affirming hormone therapy.
Hormone therapy stops cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow and spread. It can be used alone or with other treatments, such as surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. It is sometimes given before other treatments to shrink a tumor (neoadjuvant therapy). It is also used to treat cancer that has come back or spread to other parts of the body after treatment and to lower the risk that it will happen again (adjuvant therapy).
Hormonal therapy for breast cancer is usually used with drugs that block or decrease the body’s production of certain hormones. These include anti-estrogen drugs, such as tamoxifen (Nolvadex, Tamofen), and aromatase inhibitors, such as letrozole (Femara). It may also be used to help prevent breast cancer from spreading after lumpectomy or mastectomy. Hormone therapy is most often used in postmenopausal women. It is not as common in premenopausal women, but can be used to lower the risk that DCIS or LCIS will develop into invasive breast cancer.
Some cancers, such as uterine and prostate cancer, are more likely to be hormone sensitive. These cancers grow in response to estrogen and progesterone. Hormone therapy can reduce the growth of these cancers by blocking or lowering the amount of hormones in the body.
Other types of cancer, such as neuroendocrine tumors, are less likely to respond to hormone therapy. These tumors are made of glandular cells that secrete hormones, such as insulin and glucagon, to control the way the body uses food for energy. Hormone therapy can slow the growth of these tumors by blocking or lowering the hormones they release.
Some hormone therapy is used to treat other types of cancer, such as lymphoma and leukemia. These cancers are treated with corticosteroid hormones, such as prednisone and dexamethasone. These hormones are given by mouth or through an IV in the vein (intravenous). The type of hormone therapy that you have will depend on the type of cancer you have, how far it has spread and other factors. You will get a test to find out if your cancer is hormone-sensitive or not. This test is called a hormone receptor test.
Hormones are chemicals created in the body that control certain cells and organs. Changing the amount of hormones can affect how your body works, including what side effects you have. It’s important to talk with your doctor about what to expect before you start treatment.
Your doctor will explain what to watch for and how to manage long-term side effects of hormone therapy. It is also important to know what will happen if your symptoms don’t improve or become worse with treatment.
For breast cancer, hormone therapy is often used before surgery and/or radiation therapy to shrink a tumor, or to lower the chance that cancer will come back (called neoadjuvant therapy). Hormone therapy can also be given after chemotherapy to help prevent bone loss, or to reduce the risk that cancer will come back after surgery or radiation.
Different types of hormone therapy can have different side effects. Combination hormone therapy (also called estrogen progesterone/progestin therapy or EPT) typically includes both estrogen and progestin, a synthetic form of the progesterone hormone. Taking estrogen without progestin increases your risk for endometrial cancer, which occurs in the lining of the uterus. EPT reduces this risk.
Estrogen alone can cause side effects such as hot flashes and changes in the menstrual cycle. It can also increase your risk for blood clots and heart disease, especially in people who already have a history of those conditions or a family history of them. This is why it’s important to take a low dose of estrogen.
Some women with cancer have memory problems while on hormone therapy, especially if they are taking a type of hormone that increases your risk for heart attacks and stroke (such as tamoxifen). Your doctor may prescribe Zoladex (goserelin) to help with this.
Long-term hormone therapy can increase your risk for osteoporosis, especially if you have a history of blood clots or a heart disease. It can also raise your risk for dementia, although it’s not clear why. Some of these risks stay high even after you stop hormone therapy.
Hormone therapy for cancer can help prevent a tumor from growing or spreading. It also helps relieve side effects of cancer treatments. Your health care team will help you manage long-term side effects. They might give you hormones by mouth or injection. Hormones are chemicals that travel in the blood and change how cells and organs work. Natural hormones are made by glands in the body. They can also be made in a lab.
Hormones affect your body’s temperature, how you sleep, how much energy you have, and your mood. They can also cause hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and changes in sex or sexual desire. Hormone therapy can help treat these symptoms and reduce your risk for certain diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, bone fractures, and dementia.
Some types of cancer, especially breast cancer, depend on estrogen and progesterone to grow. Hormone therapy can block these hormones or stop them from binding to cancer cells. Hormone therapy can also be used before surgery or radiation therapy to shrink a tumor. This is called neoadjuvant therapy. It can also be used after cancer treatment to lower the chances of a tumor coming back or spreading. This is called adjuvant therapy.
Your health care team will decide what type of hormone therapy to use and for how long. They will consider how old you are, whether you have a uterus (women who have had a hysterectomy do not need progestin), and your family history of heart disease, blood clots, liver disease, or osteoporosis. They will also look at the dose and type of estrogen you take, and if you are taking it alone or with progestin.
If you are healthy and within 10 years of menopause, research suggests that the benefits of hormone therapy outweigh the risks. For example, it can prevent bone fractures in 28 out of 1,000 women who have regular periods. It can also decrease the risk of some health problems, such as heart disease and Type 2 diabetes, if you start it before age 60 or within 10 years after menopause.