You have two adrenal glands, which are located above the kidneys. As part of your endocrine system they secrete hormones that help regulate or maintain various functions in your body, for example response to stress, acid base balance, blood sugar level for metabolism and inflammation. As with any tissue, an adrenal gland can be a site for cancer.
Cancer that originates in the adrenal gland itself is rare. Usually when a malignant tumor is found there the cells came from somewhere else, or metastasized. A variety of cancers can spread to these glands, but melanoma, lung cancer and breast cancer are most prevalent.
Cancer starting within your adrenal gland can grow in either the cortex (outer) or medulla (inner) portion. As with most cancers, the sooner it’s found and treated the better your chances for survival. Early discovery of adrenal gland cancer is generally through symptoms caused by excess hormones produced and secreted by the cancerous tumor itself. This health blurb provides information about these hormones and symptoms of both an adrenocortical carcinoma and adrenal medulla cancer.
Adrenocortical Carcinoma
Adrenocortical carcinoma is adrenal cancer that arises from the cortex, also referred to as adrenal cortical cancer. Your adrenal cortex produces a variety of hormones. This adrenal cancer is classified as functioning when it secretes an excess and non-functioning when it does not. If this adrenal cancer is functioning, its discovery is more likely because symptoms and bodily changes can give a sign of its presence.
Generally, the hormones adrenocortical carcinomas produce too much of are cortisol, aldosterone, testosterone, estrogen or some combination. Since these hormones cause different outcomes, knowing the changes and symptoms of each one is important.
Excessive production of cortisol can cause what is known as Cushing’s syndrome. The symptoms caused by this health condition do vary greatly among individuals, but may include:
- hirsutism
- weakness
- moon face
- weight gain
- hypertension
- easy bruising
- water retention
- weak, broken bones
- purple stretch marks
- depression, irritability
- irregular menstruation
- precocious puberty in children
- fat collects around shoulders & neck
And excessive cortisol creates a high risk for developing diabetes because of high blood sugar levels.
Adrenal cancer is only one of several reasons for a high cortisol level. So for instance, taking steroids or a pituitary gland tumor causing an overproduction of ACTH are viable explanations as well.
If too much aldosterone is made by an adrenocortical carcinoma, then these symptoms of hyperaldosteronism can develop:
- weakness
- hypokalemia
- muscle cramps
- increased thirst
- frequent urination
- elevated blood pressure
Usually an excess of aldosterone is not because of cancer, but instead a pituitary adenoma or adrenal hyperplasia.
Adrenocortical cancer can also secrete excess testosterone and estrogen. Should testosterone be the hormone overproduced and you are a female, then virilization type symptoms may occur. For males, extra estrogen can cause feminization symptoms. And when excess estrogen is produced in a female or too much testosterone in a male the resulting symptoms might be attributed to a reproductive related health condition.
Adrenal Medulla Cancer
The adrenal medulla produces catecholamines, mainly epinephrine and norepinephrine. When a cancer in this part of an adrenal gland secretes an excess amount of these hormones it is referred to as a pheochromocytoma. Pheochromocytoma is a type of tumor that can be benign as well, which is most often the case.
Symptoms of adrenal medulla cancer frequently involve hypertension induced headache, sweating and palpitations. But you could also experience anxiety, nausea, tremors, weakness, abdominal pain and weight loss. Or the cancer’s excess production of hormones is not enough to cause any obvious symptoms.
Often, adrenal cancer does not cause symptoms for early detection. This may occur because the tumor does not secrete excess hormones, the amount that is secreted is insignificant or cancer cells are those of another type of tissue. In these cases, cancer in your adrenal gland may be discovered inadvertently or the adrenal tumor grows so large it presses on adjacent abdominal organs. With a large enough adrenal cancer you may experience abdominal pain, early satiety and weight loss.