Adrenal cancer symptoms
Adrenal cancer symptoms
General signs of adrenal cancer include:
- Fever
- A noticeable lump in the abdomen
- Persistent pain (pressure of tumor on organs)
- Feeling of “fullness” (caused by a tumor pressing against the stomach)
- Unexplained weight loss
Adrenal diseases & related symptoms
Many of the symptoms of adrenal cancer may appear harmless at first. Certain sets of symptoms will arise from the excess production of hormones and are characteristic of specific endocrine conditions. Conn’s disease and Cushing’s syndrome are conditions resulting from tumors secreting too much of a particular hormone. In most cases, these tumors are benign and the condition is treatable.
Conn’s disease (or Conn’s syndrome) is an adrenal disease caused by excessive production of the hormone aldosterone. Produced in the adrenal cortex, aldosterone is one of the steroid hormones in the mineralocorticoid family. Aldosterone is responsible for regulating electrolytes and, as in the case of Conn’s disease, when aldosterone becomes more active, sodium levels in the blood may increase and affect blood pressure. Unregulated, the increased sodium can lead to high blood pressure (hypertension). Excessively high blood pressure could be life threatening.
Symptoms associated with Conn’s disease include:
- Low potassium levels
- High blood pressure
- Frequent urination
- Excessive thirst
Cushing’s syndrome develops when a functioning adrenocortical tumor produces excess cortisol. Also produced in the adrenal cortex (the outer part of the gland), cortisol is involved in several important functions, most notably as the “stress response” hormone. Cortisol also plays a significant role in regulating blood pressure and metabolic function. Prolonged high levels of cortisol will affect how the body performs these vital tasks.
The effects are expressed through a variety of symptoms including:
- High blood pressure
- Skin disorders (acne or severe dryness; the appearance of stretch marks on the abdomen, thighs, breasts or arms)
- Weight gain (around the chest and stomach)
- Bloated face and neck (sometimes called “moon face”)
- A fatty hump on the back of the neck/upper back
- Excessive hair growth on a woman’s face, chest and back
- Amenorrhea (absent or irregular menstruation)
- Muscle weakness and fatigue
- Decreased growth rates in children