Living with Pituitary carcinoma
A rare cancer of the pituitary gland at the base of the brain, often making extra hormones such as prolactin or ACTH.
Understanding Pituitary carcinoma
Most of these tumors make hormones, usually prolactin or ACTH. Related conditions include too much prolactin, Cushing disease and acromegaly. Doctors diagnose it when the cancer has spread (metastases). It can appear at any time in life.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Headache
- Blurry or reduced vision
- Loss of parts of the visual field
- Enlarged pituitary gland
- Too much prolactin or ACTH in the blood
- Low pituitary hormone levels (hypopituitarism)
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include cancer specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
Raymond A. Wood Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Cancer specialists (oncologists)
- Expert care
- Expert lists: Raymond A. Wood Foundation
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Raymond A. Wood Foundation
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
GARD doesn't describe a cause for this condition yet. It says the cancer arises from pituitary cells or from an existing pituitary adenoma.
Also known as: carcinoma of pituitary; carcinoma of pituitary gland; carcinoma of the pituitary; carcinoma of the pituitary gland; pituitary adenocarcinoma; pituitary adenocarcinoma (disease)
Patient organizations
- Raymond A. Wood FoundationPituitary carcinoma · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Pituitary carcinoma.
Explore research for Pituitary carcinoma
Explore actively recruiting Pituitary carcinoma studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Pituitary carcinoma with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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