Why it's done

Hormone therapy for prostate cancer is used to stop your body from producing the male hormone testosterone, which fuels the growth of prostate cancer cells.

Your doctor may recommend hormone therapy for prostate cancer as an option at different times and for different reasons during your cancer treatment.

Hormone therapy can be used:

• In advanced (metastatic) prostate cancer to shrink the cancer and slow the growth of tumors, which also might relieve signs and symptoms
• After treatment of prostate cancer, if the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level remains high or starts rising.
• In locally advanced prostate cancer, to make external beam radiation therapy more effective in reducing the risk of recurrence
• In those with a high risk of recurrence after initial treatment to reduce that risk