Some cancers need hormones to grow. Hormone therapy is used to keep these cancers from getting the hormones they need. It helps slow or stop cancer growth. This treatment may also be called endocrine therapy for cancer.

Hormone therapy may be used when tests show that the cancer cells have receptors for hormones that cause the cancer to grow. Hormone therapy can include medicines or surgery. It may be part of the treatment plan for cancers such as breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Hormone therapy may also be used to help prevent breast cancer in people who are at high risk for breast cancer.