Symptoms of adrenal cancer in men are less common than in women. Frequency, experts say, is reflected in a ratio of 1.2: 1. An oncological disease is considered extremely dangerous. Symptoms depend on the nature of the tumor process. Consider some features of the development of the disease.
general information
The 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 that provoke characteristic symptoms can be suspected, and doctors do not always immediately understand: you need to check the patient for cancer markers. From medical statistics it is known that delayed diagnosis is characteristic of this disease.
Specific phenomena indicating a disease are associated with the characteristics of the adrenal glands as part of the human body. This is an organ that enters the endocrine 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 in the body. Hormones are necessary to regulate the balance of salts and liquids, the processing of proteins and carbohydrates. In many respects, the structure and presence of sexual characteristics of the body depends on them. Hormonal compounds determine how actively norepinephrine, adrenaline is produced.
About the disease
Symptoms, signs of adrenal cancer in men and women indicate abnormalities in the work of the body. In many ways, they depend on which particular block is damaged. There are two layers in the adrenal glands. The inner is called the brain, the other - the cortical. The tumor process can be localized in both. The location determines which part of the functionality suffers. Perhaps a violation of 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
Since 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 assesses the nature of the course, especially the hormonal background. Be sure to analyze by what mechanism the formation has developed.
A feature of malignant disease is rapid, aggressive growth. For such a pathology, vivid symptoms are characteristic. Cancer is pyrogenic. There is a danger of melanoma, teratoma. Perhaps the primary disease that has formed in the organ in question. There is a likelihood of a secondary pathological process due to the penetration of metastases from another organ.
Symptomatology
Symptoms of adrenal cancer in men and women may allow suspected aldosteroma. More often, such a pathology is benign, but there is a danger of the cancer process. Localization - glomerular block. A distinctive feature is the ability to generate aldosterone. A person suffering from such a disease increases pressure, and it is not possible to control this fact with a classical drug program effective at high pressure. Urine is being intensely generated at the same time. Many are worried about constant thirst, and muscle cramps are often observed. The patient notes weakness.
Androsteroma is another variant of the disease that can form both benign and malignant. Localization is the mesh site 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 coarsening of the voice, the specific spread 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 disappears completely. The skin coarsens and thickens, sexual activity becomes higher, but at the same time it is impossible to get pregnant. To determine the nature of the process, a histological examination of the tumor cells is necessary.
Corticosteroma, estroma
Corticosteroma, among other tumor processes of the site in question, is relatively common, with the majority of cases being benign. The probability of oncological degeneration is about 30%. Localization is a beam unit. Feature - cortisol generation. 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 region of the shoulders, lower extremities, and the abdominal wall in front. In many, numerous stretch marks form on the skin, a climacteric 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. Sex drive decreases, while pressure increases 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 and diabetes are possible. There is a growing risk of heart attack, stroke.
Corticoestroma is always a malignant disease. She is characterized by rapid development, an aggressive course. The dimensions of the formation are small. The disease is difficult to treat. As a rule, women have practically no symptoms of adrenal cancer. The only way to suspect pathology is to detect an increased concentration of estrogen in the circulatory system.
Classical symptoms
The manifestations described above are inherent in certain varieties of the oncological process. There are also general phenomena that make it possible to suspect a disease. Among these universal symptoms of adrenal cancer in women are:
- increase in blood pressure;
- nausea;
- tendency of the lower extremities to swell;
- vomiting
- nervous excitability is higher than normal;
- a feeling of constriction in the abdomen, chest;
- panic attacks;
- increased urge to empty the bladder.
These phenomena are classified as primary. Secondary manifestations are also distinguished, allowing a woman to suspect cancer. These include disorders of the genital area, renal function. A common secondary symptom is diabetes.
Diagnostic Features
If symptoms, signs of adrenal cancer are observed, it is necessary to refer a person to a full diagnosis. Instrumental and laboratory methods for clarifying the condition are used. If oncology is suspected, the patient is sent for a blood test to determine the content of catecholamines. A test is carried out using captopril. Even before analysis, a person is given this substance, or belonging to the same category, then liquid samples are taken to detect the concentration of hormones. Additionally, it is shown to pass the daily volume of urine to determine the content of aldosterone and cortisol. Phlebography to determine the quality of blood flowing in the adrenal veins will not be superfluous.
The first and key instrumental method of research is ultrasound. During the event, you can determine the dimensions, the exact location of the formation. To clarify its features, MRI and CT are prescribed. Such methods give 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 way to correct the condition, taking into account the dimensions of the formation and its specific parameters. It is necessary to remove not only all the malignant areas, but also benign, if they actively generate hormonal compounds. After surgery, the patient is sent to a course of chemotherapy.
There are two methods of surgical intervention: abdominal open and laparoscopy. In the second version, small incisions are made in the abdomen, through which tools are introduced, allowing the necessary manipulations to be performed inside the body. The operation is accompanied by the removal of tumor tissue and some element of the organ affected by the pathology.
Treatment features
If the stage of adrenal cancer is such that the process has covered a rather large volume of tissue, 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 performed located near the focus of the pathological process. Obtained samples must be sent to the laboratory for a detailed study.
After the operation, treatment with preparations containing synthetic hormones is indicated. The patient needs dynamic state control. The 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 revealed, how well the therapy was chosen. If the first symptoms, signs of adrenal cancer attracted attention, they treated the disease responsibly, the prognosis is in any case significantly better than in a patient with an advanced course.
Malignant formation is often accompanied by an unfavorable prognosis. After the removal of the tumor tissue and the course of chemical treatment, the five-year survival rate is estimated at 2%. A patient who has undergone surgery is prescribed a hormonal compound for life to control metabolism.
Is it possible to warn
In order not to know for yourself what are the symptoms of cancer of the adrenal cortex, you should lead a healthy 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 to prevent relapse. This is a rather difficult task, since in the cancer process, many in the body have hidden metastases, which are not possible to detect using modern methods. To minimize the risk of relapse, the patient is prescribed a long-term chemotherapy program.
In order to reduce the risk of primary disease, it is recommended to eliminate bad habits from everyday life, to abandon alcohol and tobacco products. It is necessary to use only those drugs that are prescribed by the doctor. Any self-medication, especially hormonal drugs, can provoke unpredictable results. It will not be superfluous to visit the clinic from time to time for a routine examination and determination of the concentration of hormonal compounds in the blood. Doctors say: people who are more likely to suffer from stress are more likely to encounter malignant formations, so changing the rhythm and lifestyle can reduce risks.
Theme Features
At present, malignant pathological processes occurring in the adrenal glands are classified as 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 oncology struck the person, how successful the treatment is. Currently, the disease is considered a socially and economically important phenomenon.
The problem of the cancer process in such a localization area is the specificity of the course, which leads to an increased risk of medical error. The biological qualities inherent in the formations cause an unusual clinical course. Very often, a person with a cancer patient turns to highly specialized doctors in different areas in an attempt to determine what causes 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.