With some cancers, people are given hormone therapy as soon as cancer is diagnosed,      before any other treatment. It may shrink a tumor, or it may halt the advance of the      disease. In some cancers, such as prostate cancer, hormone therapy helps ease the      painful and distressing symptoms of advanced disease.   
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Here are some questions to ask your healthcare provider about hormonal therapy.
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The female hormones estrogen and progesterone promote the growth of some breast tumors.      Hormonal therapy may be given to block these hormones from stimulating tumor growth.   
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