Back
Print 

Hormone therapy for prostate cancer

Skip Navigation

Top of the page

Hormone therapy treats prostate cancer by lowering the level of certain hormones in the body. These hormones are called androgens. Prostate cancer needs androgens to grow. The main androgen is testosterone. Reducing the level of testosterone can slow the growth of prostate cancer and even shrink the tumors.

The testicles make most of the body's testosterone. Hormone therapy can be done in two ways.

  • It is often done with medicines. These medicines stop the testicles from making testosterone or they block it.
  • Less often, surgery is done to remove the testicles. (This is called an orchiectomy.)

Both types of hormone therapy can cause serious side effects. These include a greater chance of getting osteoporosis, heart disease, and diabetes.

Hormone therapy may also be called androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) or androgen suppression therapy.

Current as of: October 25, 2023

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

Current as of: October 25, 2023

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

The Health Encyclopedia contains general health information. Not all treatments or services described are covered benefits for Kaiser Permanente members or offered as services by Kaiser Permanente. For a list of covered benefits, please refer to your Evidence of Coverage or Summary Plan Description. For recommended treatments, please consult with your health care provider.