Do the cancer cells have hormone receptors? Hormone receptors are like ears on and in breast cells that listen to signals from hormones. These hormone signals tell breast cells that have the receptors to grow. A cancer is called eR-positive if it has receptors for the hormone estrogen. It’s called PR-positive if it has receptors for the hormone progesterone. Breast cells that do not have receptors are negative for these hormones. Breast cancers that are ER-positive, PR-positive, or both tend to respond to hormonal therapy. Hormonal therapy is medicine that reduces the amount of estrogen in your body or that blocks estrogen.
