Symptoms & Causes
Endocrine Cancer
What is Endocrine Cancer?
What is Endocrine Cancer?Endocrine cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in one of the endocrine glands, caused by a DNA mutation. Endocrine glands are those that secrete hormones and make up the endocrine system.
What is the endocrine system?
The endocrine system is a bodily system made up of glands found throughout the body. These glands secrete hormones, chemicals that regulate biological processes. The human body contains dozens of hormones, which instruct organs to begin or halt specific processes.
Hormones regulate our sleep, digestion, growth, and more. The endocrine system continuously monitors the level of every hormone in the body and makes adjustments based on what the body needs to keep functioning without imbalances.
Types of Endocrine Cancer
TypesCancer can occur in any of the organs in the endocrine system, including:
- Adrenal glands - Rare cancer which begins in one or both of the adrenal glands located on top of the kidney
- Pituitary glands - Cancer in the pituitary glands can affect your body's hormones, leading to various problems
- Parathyroid - A cancer characterized by tumors on the parathyroid gland, which is located on your neck behind the thyroid
- Thyroid - An often symptomless cancer that begins in the thyroid, the butterfly-shaped gland located in the back of the neck
- Pancreas - This cancer often begins in the lining of the pancreas, an organ that creates enzymes to aid in digestion
Tumors in endocrine organs can release hormones into the blood due to nervous system stimulation.
Stages of Endocrine Cancer
StagesEndocrine cancer staging is often complex. If you've been diagnosed with endocrine cancer, it's essential to have a conversation with your physician about the stage of your cancer and ensure you fully understand your situation.
When determining the stage of endocrine cancers, your doctor will employ the TNM system, which considers the following factors:
- T: How big is the endocrine tumor? Has it grown out of the thyroid and into nearby organs or structures?
- N: Has the cancer spread to the lymph nodes?
- M: Has the cancer metastasized, or spread to distant organs?
Once your doctor has evaluated your tumor, they will assign a stage from I to IV. The higher the stage of cancer, the more advanced it is. Each type of endocrine cancer has a slightly different staging system.
Signs & Symptoms of Endocrine Cancer
SymptomsNo general rules apply to if or when a patient with endocrine cancer may experience symptoms. Many symptoms experienced by endocrine cancer patients can also be indicative of other conditions. If you are experiencing any symptoms, including fatigue, dizziness, nausea, or pain, make an appointment with your doctor.
Causes & Risk Factors
Causes & Risk FactorsSeveral factors can affect your likelihood of being diagnosed with endocrine cancer. Age and gender can affect your risk differently depending on the type of cancer. For example, women are about three times more likely than men to develop thyroid cancer.
Some endocrine cancers develop primarily in older people, but some cancers—such as pituitary adenomas—are more common in people in their 30s and 40s. Several hereditary conditions can increase your chances of developing endocrine cancer. For example, people with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome are at a higher risk of developing adrenal cancer.
Trust NewYork-Presbyterian for Endocrine Cancer Care
NewYork-Presbyterian's cancer specialists have years of experience recognizing the symptoms of endocrine cancers. Their rigorous training allows them to watch for signs of something wrong, and to act quickly to put together a comprehensive treatment plan for patients diagnosed with endocrine cancers. If you suspect signs or symptoms of endocrine cancer, call us today to schedule an initial appointment.