Adrenal Cancer

It begins in either one or both of the small, triangular glands which are located on the top of the kidneys, it is a type of rare cancer. Hormones that instruct virtually every organ and tissue in the body are produced by adrenal glands. Adrenocortical cancer is the other name of Adrenal glands which occur at any age. It is common in either child who is younger than 5 or adults in their 40s and 50s. When Found at an early stage the possibility of cure increases. Cure becomes less likely if it has spread beyond the adrenal glands. Progression or recurrence can be delayed with the help of the treatments. Most of the time the growths in the adrenal glands are noncancerous (benign). In the adrenal glands, Benign adrenal tumors, such as adenoma or pheochromocytoma can also develop.

Risk Factors

Adrenal cancer happens more often in people with inherited syndromes that increase the risk of certain cancers. These inherited syndromes include:

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome

Carney complex

Li-Fraumeni syndrome

Lynch syndrome

Multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 1 (MEN 1)

Symptoms

Weight Gain

Muscle Weakness

Vomiting

Nausea

Back pain

Fever

Loss of appetiete

Abdominal bloating

Hormone changes in women that might cause excess facial hair, hair loss on the head and irregular periods

Loss of weight without trying

Pink or purple stretch marks on the skin

Hormone changes in men that might cause enlarged breast tissue and shrinking testicles

Treatment

Adrenal cancer treatment usually involves surgery to remove all of cancer. Other treatments might be used to prevent cancer from coming back or if surgery isn’t an option.

Surgery: The goal of surgery is to remove the entire adrenal cancer [adrenalectomy]. If surgeons find evidence that cancer has spread to nearby structures, such as the liver or kidney, parts or all of those organs might also be removed during the operation.

Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy is sometimes used after adrenal cancer surgery to kill any cells that might remain. It can also help reduce pain and other symptoms of cancer that have spread to other parts of the body, such as the bone.

Chemotherapy: For adrenal cancers that can’t be removed with surgery or that return after initial treatments, chemotherapy may be an option to slow the progression of cancer.

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