Endocrine Cancer Overview
Our endocrine glands produce hormones, which are like the body’s messengers—they move through the bloodstream until they reach their target organ, and then they deliver instructions telling that organ exactly how to behave. These “messages” trigger important processes, like metabolism, growth, reproduction and even mood.
Occasionally, in one of the endocrine glands, a change in the DNA (known as a mutation) causes abnormal cells to grow, and a tumor forms. Most endocrine tumors are benign (not cancerous), but a few will become cancerous. Collectively, endocrine cancers are much less common than other kinds of cancer.
Types of Endocrine Cancer :
- Thyroid gland
- Pituitary gland
- Adrenal gland
- Pancreas
Symptoms
- Anxiety, including panic attacks
- Changes in bowel or bladder habits
- Confusion
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Facial flushing (redness and warm feeling over the face)
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Headaches
- Intestinal bleeding
- Irritability
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
- Nausea
- Nervousness
- Persistent pain in a specific (localized) area
- Sweating
- Thickening or lump in any part of the body
- Unexplained weight gain or loss
- Vomiting
![](https://exultdiagnostics.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Thyroid-Cancer-1024x768.jpg)
When to see a Doctor
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any signs or symptoms that worry you.