Pituitary Tumors Treatment
Pituitary tumors are abnormal growths of tissue that develop due to the over-production of hormones. Usually, it is located at the pituitary gland behind your nose.
These tumors are usually rare and may develop diseases like Cushing’s syndrome or acromegaly. It can cause functional disturbances like vision loss, headache, weakness, etc.
The treatment for these tumors will depend on their size, location, type of tumor, and what caused it. Sometimes they have to be treated immediately if they are causing any problems or affecting vision or other essential functions. Other times, they may need to monitor closely to see if treatments work out well. And sometimes surgeries do not go as planned with risks involved.
Pituitary tumors are diagnosed through blood tests, imaging scans, and sometimes biopsies. Their treatment will depend on the type of tumor, its size, and how fast they grow, along with what caused it.
Some common treatments include medicines to suppress the production of hormones in the body or radiation therapy, or surgeries like trans-sphenoidal surgery/craniotomy for removing pituitary tumors. However, not all treatments may work out for some people as there are risks involved with any surgical procedure.
Foods to avoid with a pituitary tumor:
The pituitary gland is responsible for producing many different hormones in the body. When this gland becomes overactive, it can cause a hormone imbalance, which results in low blood sugar.
As a result, you will be required to eliminate certain foods from your diet that are known to elevate blood sugar levels, including white bread and pasta, juices, sports drinks and sodas, candy bars, baked goods made with refined flour or white flour products that have been sweetened with sugars or high fructose corn syrup. You may want to avoid peanuts as well since they are legumes rather than nuts and do not contain the same healthy fats as other types of nuts.
It’s essential to limit your intake of vitamin A when you have a pituitary tumor. Animal products such as liver and fish contain high levels of vitamin A that can contribute to the growth of your tumor. You may also want to avoid dairy foods such as milk, cheese, and ice cream since they are also very high in this vital vitamin.
If you have a pituitary tumor, it’s essential to limit your intake of red meats and organ meats because they are high in saturated fat content and cholesterol, which leads to many different types of chronic illnesses, including heart disease and cancer.
High-sugar fruits such as bananas, grapes, pineapple, strawberries, oranges strawberry kiwis should be avoided because of their sugar content. These fruits have been known to exacerbate hormone imbalances. Even fruits considered healthy, such as blueberries and cranberries should also be avoided since they too may cause increases in blood sugar.
Pituitary tumor symptoms:
Pituitary tumors can be benign, or they can be cancerous. In either case, the symptoms will vary from one person to another depending on the size of the tumor and what type of hormones it has been producing. To help determine if you have a pituitary tumor, your doctor may want to conduct a physical examination of your body, including an eye exam, as all kinds of hormonal imbalances can affect vision.
When a tumor is large enough, it may cause visual disturbances such as double vision or a change in color vision, both of which can occur due to swelling around the eyes.
Many people who have had surgery for their pituitary tumors report experiencing emotional changes after their procedures. It’s not uncommon for these to include depression, irritability, and mood swings. Some may even experience symptoms of mania or psychotic episodes after surgery, which will require treatment to correct.
Hydrocephalus is a condition that occurs when there is an imbalance in brain fluids that causes the skull to become enlarged. This usually is associated with an overactive pituitary gland because it can cause significant pressure on the brain. However, if you notice changes in your vision and headaches and nausea, you should keep these symptoms under careful observation since they are also signs of hydrocephalus.
Pituitary tumor symptoms female:
Many women who have a pituitary tumor consume large amounts of soy because it is known to mimic the properties of estrogen in their bodies. Since estrogen can stimulate the growth of hormone-sensitive tumors, these conditions are likely to be exacerbated by including soy products in your diet. Other foods that contain high levels of phytoestrogens include legumes, flaxseeds and sesame seeds, nuts, and wheat germ.
Pituitary adenoma treatment cabergoline:
In most cases, a pituitary adenoma is not life-threatening, and the gland can be surgically removed with no damage to other areas of the body. However, some signal factors may need to be addressed before or during your surgery, such as significant vision problems which require a more involved procedure.
Many treatments have been developed over the years for treating pituitary tumors, but none are superior in terms of their safety and efficacy. Since each cancer will be different, no universal solution is recommended for everyone.
Most of these procedures involve the use of drugs that will either shrink or slow down the growth rate of your tumor so that it will not continue to exert pressure on the surrounding tissue. Your doctor will also want to accomplish this in a way that won’t cause damage to your optic nerves or take away too much of your pituitary function.
Serious side effects are possible with any medication used to treat pituitary tumors, but they are not shared unless you have an extreme case that requires intense intervention. By working closely with your endocrinologist, you’ll be able to lower the risk significantly and improve your chances for recovery and wellness after treatment has been completed.
Microadenoma treatment:
In either case, the symptoms will vary from one person to another depending on the size of the tumor and what type of hormones it has been producing. To help determine if you have a pituitary tumor, your doctor may want to conduct a physical examination of your body, including an eye exam, as all kinds of hormonal imbalances can affect vision.
Many people who have had surgery for their pituitary tumors report experiencing emotional changes after their procedures. It’s not uncommon for these to include depression, irritability, and mood swings. Some may even experience symptoms of mania or psychotic episodes after surgery, which will require treatment to correct.
Pituitary gland tumor removal:
Most commonly, patients are more irritable and likely to become stressed and anxious than before taking this medication. While it may be unpleasant, these changes will generally subside after your body knows how your new hormone levels affect you.
If you have a pituitary tumor producing excess prolactin, then stopping its production with medications or surgery will cause an abrupt decline in dopamine levels in your body. This results in the sudden development of hyperprolactinemia which can trigger all kinds of side effects, including changes in vision, tiredness, mood swings, etc.