Symptoms of adrenal cancer in men are somewhat less common than in women. The frequency, as experts say, is reflected by the ratio of 1, 2: 1. Cancer is considered extremely dangerous. Symptoms depend on the nature of the tumor process. Consider some features of the development of the disease.
General information
Manifestations, symptoms of adrenal cancer affect the functioning of the whole organism as a whole, but the peculiarity of this pathology is that it is very difficult to determine the root cause. The patient's condition is such that many factors can be suspected that provoke characteristic symptoms, and doctors do not always immediately understand: it is necessary to check the patient for oncological markers. It is known from medical statistics that this disease is characterized by delayed diagnosis.
Specific phenomena indicating a disease are associated with the characteristics of the adrenal glands as part of the human body. This is an organ inendocrine system. It is located above the kidneys, has a paired structure, is responsible for the generation of a number of hormonal compounds that control the biochemical processes occurring in the body. Hormones are necessary to regulate the balance of s alts and fluids, the processing of proteins and carbohydrates. In many ways, the structure and the presence of sexual characteristics of the body depend on them. Hormonal compounds determine how actively noradrenaline, adrenaline are produced.
About illness
Symptoms, signs of adrenal cancer in men and women indicate a violation in the body. In many ways, they depend on which block is damaged. The adrenal glands have two layers. The inner one is called cerebral, the other is called cortical. The tumor process can be localized in both. The location determines which part of the functionality suffers. It is possible to disrupt the work of one adrenal gland, but sometimes the pathological process covers two at once. The frequency of occurrence is an average of 0.06% of the number of all cancer patients.
About categorization
Because adrenal cancer can appear in different parts of the body, a classification system based on the localization of the pathological process has been introduced. Also, when determining the nuances of the case, the doctor evaluates the nature of the course, the characteristics of the hormonal background. Be sure to analyze by what mechanism the formation developed.
A feature of a malignant disease is rapid, aggressive growth. For such a pathology, bright symptoms are characteristic. Canceris pyrogenic. There is a danger of melanoma, teratoma. Perhaps the primary disease that has formed in the organ in question. There is a possibility of a secondary pathological process due to the penetration of metastases from another organ.
Symptomatics
Symptoms of adrenal cancer in men and women may suggest aldosteroma. Most often, such a pathology is benign, but there is a danger of a cancerous process. Localization - glomerular block. A distinctive feature is the ability to generate aldosterone. In a person suffering from such a disease, pressure increases, and this fact cannot be controlled by a classical drug program that is effective at high pressure. At the same time, urine is intensively generated. Many are worried about constant thirst, often there is muscle cramps. The patient notes weakness.
Androsteroma is another variant of the disease that can form both benign and malignant. Localization is a reticular area responsible for androgen generation. The tumor process is accompanied by excessive production of a substance that inhibits female hormonal compounds. The classic symptoms of adrenal cancer in women are a coarsening of the voice, a specific distribution of vegetation on the body. For many, the lines of the figure change - the body is more like a man's. As a rule, the disease is accompanied by amenorrhea, that is, monthly discharge completely disappears. The skin becomes coarse and dense, sexual activity becomes higher, but at the same time it is impossible to get pregnant. To determine the nature of the processhistological examination of tumor cells is necessary.
Corticosteroma, estroma
Corticosteroma among other tumor processes of the area under consideration is relatively common, and the main percentage of cases is benign. The probability of oncological degeneration is about 30%. Localization - beam block. Feature - the generation of cortisol. For this form of adrenal cancer, the symptoms in women are as follows: weight gain according to the male scenario, muscle atrophy, expressed in the area of the shoulders, lower extremities, and the abdominal wall in front. For many, numerous stretch marks form on the skin, a menopausal hump is observed. The puffiness of the face is disturbing, fungal diseases of the lower extremities, the nail plate, as well as ulcerative processes in this area are possible. Sexual desire decreases, at the same time pressure rises and the rhythm of the heartbeat goes astray. The body is characterized by edema, the patient often has a headache. Excess cortisol leads to sleep disturbances and depression. Osteoporosis, diabetes are possible. The risk of heart attack and stroke is growing.
Corticoestroma is always a malignant disease. It is characterized by rapid development, an aggressive course. Formation dimensions are small. The disease is difficult to treat. As a rule, women have practically no symptoms of adrenal cancer of this type. The only way to suspect a pathology is to detect an increased concentration of estrogen in the circulatory system.
Classic symptoms
The manifestations described above are inherent incertain types of cancer. There are also common phenomena that make it possible to suspect the disease. These universal symptoms of adrenal cancer in women include:
- rising blood pressure;
- nausea;
- Tendency of the lower extremities to swell;
- vomit;
- nervous excitability above normal;
- squeezing sensation in the abdomen, chest;
- panic attacks;
- increased urge to empty the bladder.
The listed phenomena are classified as primary. There are also secondary manifestations that make it possible to suspect an oncological disease in a woman. These include disorders of the sexual sphere, renal functionality. A common secondary symptom is diabetes.
Diagnostic features
If there are symptoms, signs of adrenal cancer, it is necessary to refer the person for a full diagnosis. Instrumental and laboratory methods are used to clarify the state. If oncology is suspected, the patient is sent for a blood test to determine the content of catecholamines. A test is performed using captopril. Even before analysis, a person is given this substance, or belonging to the same category, then fluid samples are taken to determine the concentration of hormones. Additionally, it is shown to pass the daily volume of urine to determine the content of aldosterone and cortisol. Phlebography will not be superfluous to determine the quality of blood flowing in the adrenal veins.
First and keyinstrumental method of research - ultrasound. During the event, you can determine the dimensions, the exact location of the formation. To clarify its features, MRI, CT are prescribed. Such methods provide layered images that accurately reflect even small formations, whose diameter is only half a centimeter. You can determine the nature of the process, composition.
What to do
With symptoms of adrenal cancer, a therapeutic course is prescribed only after confirming the malignancy of the disease and identifying its features. The doctor determines the appropriate method for correcting the condition, taking into account the dimensions of the formation and its specific parameters. It is necessary to remove not only all malignant areas, but also benign ones, if they actively generate hormonal compounds. After surgery, the patient is sent to a course of chemotherapy.
There are two methods of surgical intervention: open cavity and laparoscopy. In the second variant, small incisions are made in the abdomen, through which instruments are introduced that allow performing the necessary manipulations inside the body. The operation is accompanied by the removal of tumor tissues and some element of the organ affected by the pathology.
Features of treatment
If the stage of adrenal cancer is such that the process has covered a fairly large amount of tissue, a radical intervention is indicated. In medicine, its name is adrenalectomy. The doctor evaluates the state of the lymphatic system and removes part of the nodes from the body. Resections are subjected tolocated near the focus of the pathological process. The received samples are necessarily sent to the laboratory for a detailed study.
After surgery, treatment with drugs containing synthetic hormones is indicated. The patient needs dynamic monitoring of the condition. A high risk of relapse is taken into account.
What to expect
The prognosis is determined by the type of tumor and how and when it was detected, how well the therapy was chosen. If the first symptoms, signs of adrenal cancer attracted attention, the disease was treated responsibly, the prognosis in any case is much better than in a patient with a running course.
Malignant formation is more often accompanied by an unfavorable prognosis. After removing the tumor tissue and undergoing a course of chemical treatment, the five-year survival rate is estimated at 2%. A patient who has undergone surgery is prescribed hormonal compounds for life to control metabolism.
Can I warn you
In order not to find out for yourself what the symptoms of adrenal cortex cancer are, you should lead a he althy lifestyle. Since it has not yet been possible to determine the causes leading to the development of the oncological process, it has not been possible to develop a specific preventive program. The main idea of prevention is the prevention of relapse. This is a rather difficult task, since in the case of a cancerous process, many in the body have hidden metastases, which cannot be detected using modern methods. To minimize the risk of relapse, the patienta long-term chemotherapy program is prescribed.
To reduce the risk of a primary disease, it is recommended to exclude bad habits from everyday life, give up alcohol and tobacco products. It is necessary to use only those drugs that are prescribed by the doctor. Any self-medication, especially hormonal agents, can provoke unpredictable results. It will not be superfluous to visit the clinic from time to time for a preventive examination and determine the concentration of hormonal compounds in the blood. Doctors note: people who are more often exposed to stress are more likely to encounter malignant formations, so changing the rhythm and lifestyle can reduce the risks.
Theme Features
Currently, malignant pathological processes occurring in the adrenal glands belong to the category of the least studied oncological diseases. To some extent, this is due to the rarity of the phenomenon. It is known that more often pathology is diagnosed in people of the middle age group. Cancer always becomes the cause of disability, and it does not matter what type of adrenal cancer struck the person, how successful the treatment is. The disease is now considered to be socially and economically important.
The problematic of the cancerous process in such an area of localization is the specificity of the course, which causes an increased risk of medical error. The biological qualities inherent in the formations cause an unusual clinical course. Very often, a cancer patient turns to highly specialized doctors in various fields in an attempt to determine what provokes unpleasant symptoms, but no studies can reveal the root cause, and few can suspect the cancer process due to the low frequency of occurrence and lack of information about such a pathology.
