Adrenal Cancer Symptoms

Adrenal Cancer happens when abnormal cells are in your adrenal glands. Your adrenals glands are located on top of each of your kidneys. Adrenal cancer takes place on the adrenal cortex or the external layer of your adrenal glands. It will usually appear as a cancerous tumor called an Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma. It is usually more than two inches in diameter. The tumor can get even bigger which will then result to cause more symptoms or sometimes create major changes in your body from the excessive production of hormones.

It’s not Adrenal Cortical Carcinomas if the cancer did not originate in your adrenal glands. When you are already experiencing other cancers (breast, kidney, stomach, lymphoma, skin), they can spread and may reach your adrenal glands.

Adrenal Cancer Symptoms

Adrenal cancer can cause excessive production of hormones which then causes some symptoms of adrenal cancer. The symptoms for adrenal cancer may also appear from the larger tumors which are pressing on the organs of the body.

Excessive Androgen or Estrogen

Symptoms coming from excessive androgen or estrogen can easily be spotted in children compared to adults. This is because of the physical changes are more visible on the children’s puberty stage.

Some signs of adrenal cancer with excessive androgen or estrogen:

• The child is producing excessive pubic hair, underarm hair, and facial hair.
• Having an enlarged penis
• Having an enlarged clitoris
• Boys experience having large breasts
• Girls experience puberty earlier

Excessive Cortisol and Aldosterone

Some people who are suffering from adrenal cancer shows symptoms only until their tumor is large enough to press on other organs. Women having a tumor causing to increase androgen may experience facial hair growth or may have a deepened voice. Men having a tumor causing to increase estrogen may experience enlargement of their breasts or feel tenderness of their breasts. If women have excess estrogen and men have excess in androgen, it will be more difficult to diagnose the tumor.

Other Symptoms:

• Being bruised easily
• Having high blood pressure
• Having high blood sugar
• Having irregular periods
• Experiencing weight gain
• Experiencing Muscle Cramps
• Experiencing Depression
• Experiencing Frequent Urination

Treatments for Adrenal Cancer

• Surgery
• Radiation Therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Other Treatments
  • Ablation – or the destruction of tumor cells
  • Mitolane – a drug commonly used to treat adrenal cancer
  • Other Clinical Treatments recommended by your doctor

 Prevention is always better than cure. It’s better to take good care of your adrenal glands now. You can avoid adrenal cancer and other adrenal complications through regularly taking in adrenal support supplements.