Endocrine glands, like other organs of the body, can be affected by cancer. What is endocrine cancer?
Endocrine cancer
The endocrine system contains a group of glands distributed throughout various parts of the body.
Endocrine cancer is the occurrence of cancer in any gland in the body.
Endocrine cancer is a rare cancer, and thyroid cancer is the most common type of endocrine cancer.
Endocrine cancer
It was also mentioned that the body contains a large group of glands. Here are the most important details about some types of endocrine cancer:
1. Cancer of the hypothalamus
The hypothalamus is located in the brain. Cancer may originate in the hypothalamus and cause many problems in the body because the hypothalamus has an essential role in maintaining the body’s balance.
In fact, there is no known cause for the emergence of hypothalamic gland cancer, as genetic factors and some external influences play in increasing the risk of this type of cancer.
Symptoms of hypothalamic cancer: Symptoms of hypothalamic cancer include the following
Disturbances of emotions and feelings.
Failure to thrive, especially in children.
headache.
Excessive physical activity.
Severe loss of appetite and weight.
Convulsions and sometimes loss of vision depending on the location and size of the cancerous tumor.
Treatment of hypothalamic gland cancer: Treatment depends on the nature, size, and aggressiveness of the cancer cells. Treatment is usually done by resorting to surgery combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
If fluid accumulates around the brain due to the effect of a cancerous tumor, this is treated using steroid medications. Artificial hormones are also used to compensate the body and try to restore balance within the body due to the disruption of hypothalamic hormones caused by cancer.
2. Pituitary gland cancer
Pituitary cancer originates in the cells of the pituitary gland located in the brain. Pituitary gland tumors are benign tumors in most cases, as the cause of pituitary tumors is not yet known and their occurrence is likely due to genetic factors.
Symptoms of pituitary cancer: Symptoms of pituitary cancer vary depending on the location of the tumor in the gland. The effect of the tumor may sometimes lead to an increase in the secretion of hormones from their normal level and other times it may lead to a decrease in the secretion of hormones from their normal level.
Here are the most important details about the symptoms of pituitary cancer
General symptoms caused by tumor pressure include: headache and loss of vision.
Symptoms that appear due to hormone deficiency include: nausea and vomiting, general weakness, a constant feeling of coldness, cessation or disturbance of the menstrual cycle, sexual weakness, frequent urination, and sudden weight loss or gain.
Symptoms that appear due to an increase in hormones above their normal level include: Cushing''s syndrome, which appears due to high cortisol, acromegaly due to the effect on growth hormone, sexual impotence in men, and menstrual irregularity in women, with the appearance of milk from the breasts outside of the breastfeeding period, due to the effect of the tumor on Prolactin hormone levels or symptoms of hyperthyroidism may appear.
Pituitary cancer treatment: Treatment includes several options, including surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.
Some drug treatments are also used to suppress symptoms resulting from hormonal imbalance or compensate for their deficiency.
3. Thyroid cancer
The thyroid gland is located in the neck area. Cancer can originate in thyroid cells and usually affects women more than men.
Causes of thyroid cancer: The cause of thyroid cancer is a genetic mutation that occurs in its cells. There are some factors that increase the risk of thyroid cancer, including:
Inflammation and enlargement of the thyroid gland.
Genetics.
Exposure to radiation in childhood.
obesity.
Symptoms of thyroid cancer: Symptoms of thyroid cancer include the following
Sensation of painless lumps and swelling in the thyroid gland.
Swelling and swelling of the neck.
Sudden, persistent hoarseness.
Persistent sore throat.
Difficulty swallowing.
Treatment of thyroid cancer: Treatment of thyroid cancer depends on the type of cancer and its spread, and treatments include the following:
Surgery.
Radioactive iodine treatment.
Radiotherapy.
Chemotherapy or biological treatments targeting the disease.
4. Cancer of the parathyroid glands
The parathyroid glands are four glands located directly behind the thyroid gland. Cancer of the parathyroid glands is rare and usually occurs over the age of 30.
There are no clear causes that lead to the emergence of parathyroid cancer, as this type of cancer is difficult to diagnose and grows slowly.
Symptoms of parathyroid cancer: The primary function of the parathyroid glands is to maintain normal calcium levels in the blood and bones.
If cancer arises, the hormones of the parathyroid glands will be affected, leading to hypercalcemia within the blood, and thus symptoms include the following:
Bone pain.
Bone fractures.
frequent urination.
Excessive feeling of thirst.
Nausea and vomiting.
Anorexia.
General fatigue and muscle pain.
holding.
kidney stones.
Treatment of parathyroid gland cancer: Treatment includes correcting blood calcium levels as much as possible to reduce side effects, using the following treatments:
Intravenous fluid injection.
Bisphosphonate medication.
Calcitonin.
Gallium nitrate.
As for a cancerous tumor, the optimal treatment is surgery in conjunction with radiotherapy in some medical cases.
5. Adrenal cancer
The body has two adrenal glands, each of which is located above the kidney. Cancer can arise in the adrenal gland and may be benign or malignant.
Causes of adrenal cancer: The main cause of adrenal cancer is unknown, but there are some genetic disorders and diseases that increase the risk of developing it, including:
Beckoth-Widman syndrome.
Li-Fraumeni syndrome.
Familial polyposis.
Symptoms of adrenal cancer: Adrenal cancer leads to an increase in the secretion of various hormones, and if estrogen and androgens increase in children, the symptoms include the following:
Abnormal hair growth under the armpit, on the face, and in the pubic area.
Enlargement of the reproductive organs in both sexes.
Breast protrusion in males.
Early puberty in females.
As for adults, symptoms do not appear until the tumor enlarges, such that increased secretion of androgen leads to hirsutism and deepening of the voice in women and increased estrogen leads to breast enlargement and pain in men.
If the hormones aldosterone and cortisol increase, the symptoms include the following
Chronic high blood pressure.
Chronic high blood sugar.
Significant weight gain.
Menstrual disorder.
The appearance of bruises under the skin.
Depression.
frequent urination.
Muscle spasm and pain.
Treatment of adrenal cancer
Treatment is carried out by resorting to surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy depending on the nature and size of the tumor. Mitotane treatment is used in some cases to help inhibit the secretion of hormones and shrink the tumor.
