Endocrine Cancer: A Case Study

The Endocrine system is important to maintain the balance between our bodies organs, organ systems and the body (Lurie, n.d). The endocrine system controls hormone production and distribution of hormones (Lurie, n.d). Cancer of any of these glands can result in the cancer producing hormones that can interfere with normal body function (Lurie, n.d). Cancer is the uncontrollable growth of malignant cells. Endocrine cancer can happen on any of the organs of the system and is more likely to affect women (Dr. Jemal, 2009). In the United States there is an estimated amount of 27,650 cases of endocrine cancer per year (A. Jemal, 2005). The glands associated with the endocrine system are the hypothalamus, pineal, pituitary, adrenal, thyroid, parathyroid,

These tumors can vary in how it affects the body because some tumors do not produce hormone while others do (National Cancer Institute, 2015). Most adrenal cancers are not the result of cancer in the adrenal glands; the cancer usually results from metastasized cancer- cancer from another place in the body (National Cancer Institute, 2015). Symptoms can include pain in abdomen depending on tumor size, loss of weight, and weakness if the tumor is not releasing hormones, but if it does it can cause high blood pressure, diabetes, and bone weakening (Bellenir, 2007). Adrenocortical Carcinoma can disturb the sex hormones leading to swollen and tender breast, swelling of the sex organs, and the growth of facial hair (Bellenir, 2007). Due to how rare Adrenal Cortex cancer is the statistics available are not exact; however, it is estimated 300 to 500 people are diagnosed with this form of cancer per year in the United States (University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2012). The average age for diagnosis is forty six years old (University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2012). The five year survival rate is sixty five percent if the cancer has not metastasized or spread to other parts of the body (University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2012). Figure

These diseases do not automatically mean the cancer will present itself, but does increase the risk. These genetic disorders are: Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2, Neurofibromatosis Type 1, Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome, Carney Complex, and Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2012). These disorders are all inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern (Genetics Home Reference, 2015). These genetic disorders have mutations that occur on genes that relate to tumor growth or suppression; the disorders also cause patients to grow tumors in and on their body (Genetics Home Reference, 2015). Family history for this cancer should prompt patients to be tested every year (University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2012). Other than hereditary disorders and family history there are no other known risk factors for Adrenocortical Carcinoma (University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2012). There are no methods to reduce risk factors for Adrenocortical Carcinoma in your lifestyle; however, a healthy lifestyle should be maintained to reduce all cancer