The word hormone comes from the Greek meaning “set in motion.” Scientists introduced the term in 1902 to describe a chemical substance that travels throughout the body, influencing physiology and behavior.
Hormones move through the bloodstream to target tissues, where they initiate physiological processes and regulate growth, sleep, digestion, cognition, behavior, and countless other functions. Hormones truly set everything “in motion.”
Because some hormones are involved in cellular growth and differentiation, they can significantly influence cancer development. Hormonal imbalances can disrupt normal cellular processes, potentially leading to the uncontrolled cell growth we see in cancer.
While all hormones play important roles, chronic elevation or suppression of certain hormones can have significant downstream effects. Balance is key, and addressing hormone health is a major component of cancer prevention and treatment.
- High Estrogen: Elevated estrogen levels are a risk factor for cancer. This is because estrogen promotes cellular proliferation. It is often considered the hormone of ‘new life,’ because it draws water into the cell, and stimulates cellular division and multiplication. High, unopposed estrogen can therefore promote the uninhibited growth seen in cancer.
If not in balance with other sex hormones, especially progesterone, estrogen allows abnormal cells to grow and divide uncontrollably. Estrogen is especially involved in hormonally driven cancers such as breast, endometrial, ovarian, and prostate cancers.
- High Cortisol: Elevated cortisol levels due to chronic stress can contribute to hormone imbalances by suppressing the production of thyroid hormones and sex hormones (progesterone and testosterone). This disruption in normal endocrine function can weaken the immune system, increase inflammation, and create an environment conducive to cancer development.
When the immune system is compromised, cancer cells can go undetected, allowing abnormal cells to proliferate unchecked and tumors to form. Chronic inflammation caused by high cortisol can further support cancer growth and metastasis, providing cancer cells with the signals they need to survive and proliferate.
- High Prolactin: Prolactin can work synergistically with estrogen, enhancing its effects and increasing the risk of hormone-dependent cancers such as breast cancer. When prolactin levels are high, cell proliferation increases.
Elevated prolactin is also correlated with hypothyroidism and disrupted energy production. This is because when thyroid hormones are low, the brain increases production of both thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and prolactin. Unfortunately, prolactin has a thyroid suppressive effect, creating a cycle of imbalance and further reducing energy production, DNA repair, and cell function, all of which can contribute to cancer.
- Low Thyroid Hormones: Low thyroid function, or hypothyroidism, can contribute to cancer development by disrupting the body’s metabolic and hormonal balance. Thyroid hormones are crucial for regulating metabolism, cell growth, and differentiation. When thyroid function is low, it can lead to a slower metabolism and a reduced ability to repair and maintain healthy cells.
Hypothyroidism can increase in oxidative stress and inflammation, DNA damage, and promote the formation of tumors. The hormonal imbalances associated with low thyroid function, such as low progesterone, can also interfere with the body’s ability to control cell proliferation and differentiation further increasing the risk of cancer.
- Low Progesterone: Progesterone is an anticancer hormone. This is because it promotes cellular differentiation. Cancer cells are typically unspecialized and proliferate uncontrollably, but progesterone helps counter this by encouraging cells to mature and become specialized. This differentiation reduces the likelihood of abnormal cell growth and helps maintain normal tissue structure and function.
Progesterone also supports the immune system, reduces inflammation, protects against toxins, and acts as an estrogen antagonist, countering its effects. When levels are low, estrogen is unchecked and contributes to tumor growth. Balancing estrogen to progesterone is a key component of cancer prevention and treatment.
- Low DHEA: DHEA is a youth-associated hormone that plays a role in mitigating stress by countering the harmful effects of cortisol. Low DHEA levels lead to heightened stress response, cell damage, and low thyroid function. Low DHEA is commonly associated with high cortisol, and weakens the immune system which creates a more favorable environment for cancer cells to thrive.
DHEA enhances immune function by boosting the production and activity of immune cells and improving the body’s ability to identify and eliminate cancer cells. It is also anti-inflammatory, reducing oxidative stress, which is associated with cancer development and progression.
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