Can hormone therapy shrink tumors or only control them?
How hormone therapy helps shrink tumors Hormone therapy can both shrink tumors and control their growth, but the result depends on the type of cancer and how the patient responds. Some cancers grow because they receive “fuel” from hormones like estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone. When doctors block these hormones or reduce their levels, cancer cells become weak and may stop multiplying. In many breast and prostate cancer patients, tumors shrink noticeably once hormone therapy begins. For example, medicines such as Tamoxifen, Aromatase inhibitors, or drugs that lower testosterone stop the cancer cells from getting the hormones they need. As a result, tumors reduce in size, pain decreases, and treatment such as surgery or radiation becomes easier and more effective. How hormone therapy controls cancer even without shrinking Shrinking is not the only purpose. In many cases, hormone therapy is used to control cancer, especially when it has spread or surgery is not possible. Inst...