Does estrogen cause cancer to grow?

Estrogen was originally believed to cause cancer by helping cells proliferate. After the hormone binds to its receptors in a cell, it turns on hormone-responsive genes that promote DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. If a cell happens to have cancer-causing mutations, those cells will also proliferate and have a chance to grow into tumors. read more

Hormone therapy, which is sometimes called anti-estrogen therapy, is designed to starve the cancer of the estrogen it needs to grow. Some breast cancers have progesterone receptors as well. Progesterone is another female hormone that is necessary for childbearing. read more