What is the Treatment For a Pituitary Tumor?
surgical radioactive curettage radiation therapy medication chemotherapy surgery or scan then watchful waiting observation follow-up scans/ultrasounds operate to remove the tumor hormone replacement therapy proton beam radiotherapy cranial irradiation
What are the effects of proton beam radiotherapy on the body?
headache eye problems skin damage increased chance of infection increased chance of birth defects loss of smell or taste. stomach upset sore mouth ulcers swelling in throat increase risk of leukemia decrease sperm count weakening bones brain damage memory loss fatigue mood swings poor concentration seizures nervous system disorders tremors difficulty speaking difficulty swallowing anxiety depression other problems anxiety depression other problems
What are the effects of cranial irradiation on the body?
headache eye problems skin damage increased chance of infection depression weight gain feeling sick or vomiting poor appetite bone thinning hair loss insomnia memory loss fatigue mood swings seizures nervous system disorders tremors difficulty speaking difficulty swallowing cancer stomach upset ulcers swollen mouth throat increase risk of leukemia decrease sperm count weakening bones brain damage memory loss fatigue mood swings poor concentration seizures nervous system disorders tremors difficulty speaking difficulty swallowing anxiety depression other problems.
foods to avoid with pituitary tumor:
When you are diagnosed with a pituitary tumor, your doctor will recommend that you restrict your diet to help control the size of the tumor. This article will provide some useful tips on foods to avoid pituitary gland tumors.
1-sugars and starches:
These should be avoided as they turn to glucose in the body which then causes an increase in blood sugar levels. You can substitute sugars with artificial sweeteners but these may also cause problems so it is best that you just eliminate them from your diet altogether.
Remember that all processed food contains extra sugars so beware. Please note that fructose which occurs naturally in fruit is different than sucrose or high fructose corn syrup and other refined sugars which have been linked to many health problems.
2- alcohol:
Alcohol is harmful as it robs the body of certain nutrients and also impairs the metabolism of the tumor which leads to a very rapid growth rate. It is best to avoid all liquor completely or at least cut your intake down tremendously. Note that beer and wine are not as evil as hard liquor so you can have a little bit of these but limit yourself drastically.
3- salt:
This should be eliminated from your diet because it makes you retain fluids. You can use spices instead for flavor without adding any extra calories to your body. Some people find this more difficult than they think especially when eating out at restaurants where everything is loaded with salt already. Be sure to ask for foods prepared “plain” and without any salt added.
4- saturated fats:
These can be found in beef, pork, and other animal sources so these should also be eliminated from your diet if you have a pituitary tumor. The fat clogs up your arteries which will eventually lead to heart problems so this is an important thing to avoid if possible. If you want some flavor, try adding herbs or spices instead of using more cooking oil or butter when preparing foods.
5- meat substitutes:
Soy products such as burgers and hot dogs are high in fat and cholesterol while low in nutrients. They contain very little real food value while at the same time causing digestive problems later on down the road. Please note that soy has been linked to many health issues so it would be a good idea to avoid all of these products completely.
Pituitary tumor treatment medication:
When you are diagnosed with a pituitary tumor, your doctor will prescribe medication to help shrink the size of the tumor. This article will provide some useful tips on medications used for pituitary tumors.
Medication for Pituitary Tumor:
1- Dopamine agonists:
These are drugs that mimic dopamine which is an important hormone in regulating prolactin levels in women who have too much prolactin. Examples include bromocriptine and cabergoline which can be prescribed by your doctor depending upon what type of pituitary tumor you have. Many women take these drugs orally while others have them injected intramuscularly if their condition warrants it.
2- Anti-migraine medication:
If you get migraines, your doctor will probably prescribe a pain reliever called sumatriptan which is a type of drug known as a triptan. This medication works by constricting blood vessels which will often stop the migraine from progressing or relieve symptoms if it has already started. Other triptans available include almotriptan and rizatriptan benzoate while naratriptan and frovatriptan are also sometimes prescribed.
3- Bilateral transsphenoidal surgery:
If you have an invasive tumor that requires surgical removal, this is one option that can be considered by your endocrinologist in conjunction with other doctors such as brain surgeons and ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialists upon what type of tumor you have. If the tumor is large, your doctor may prefer this method of removal over standard surgery depending upon what type of cancer you have and whether it has spread to other parts of your body.
4- Dopamine agonist with internal radiation therapy:
This combination treatment with drugs along with ionizing radiation has been used quite successfully in treating patients who suffer from pituitary tumors that do not respond well to other forms of treatment. The chemotherapy helps shrink the tumor before it is surgically removed which works very well for many patients according to doctors specializing in pituitary tumors.
5- Antibodies:
Some antibodies are used for treating newly diagnosed cases where there has not yet been any evidence that the tumor cells themselves are resistant to hormonal treatment. These are often combined with other hormonal medications to help prevent tumor growth according to Dr. Norman Epstein of UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.
6- Immunotherapy drugs:
Newer types of immunotherapy drug treatment are currently being studied that stimulate the body’s immune response against the pituitary tumor cells using interleukin 2, IL2 which pits T cells against cancerous cells in the patient’s bloodstream and lymph nodes according to reports appearing in The Journal of Clinical Oncology. Interleukin 2, IL2 is what produces natural killer (NK) cells which can be instrumental for helping fight off tumors if they have already spread throughout the body so this drug may be useful for some patients depending on their specific condition.
pituitary tumor symptoms eyes:
Pituitary tumors can cause tumors in the eyes for example, which must be treated quickly because they could end up blinding you. The symptoms include yellowing of the white part of your eye (sclera) and the red color (iris) may look bloodshot or even blue although it is not true that this eye color change is directly caused by the tumor itself.
It is much more likely to be caused by an infection according to Dr. Kevin Schwartz who specializes in neuro-ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medical College since early diagnosis can help reduce vision loss significantly or even totally prevent it by removing the tumor altogether with surgery right away if necessary.
7- Chemotherapy drugs:
Though chemotherapy has been used successfully to shrink pituitary tumors in some cases, it’s not always effective even if the tumor can be seen on imaging tests like MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). This is because there are different types of chemotherapy drugs used to treat pituitary tumors and they all work for some patients but not for others.
Treatment plans typically involve using these in combination with other treatments such as surgery to remove the cancerous cells in patients who do respond well. Chemotherapy works by killing certain types of dividing cells which include cancer cells within your body along with healthy blood cells including platelets that help your blood clot when you get injured.
The side effects of this treatment depend upon how many blood-forming stem cells your immune system has so doctors must closely monitor how much damage this treatment does to you as side effects may include hair loss, fatigue, and gastrointestinal issues.