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Pituitary Cancer
Understanding Your Diagnosis Deciding on Treatment Managing Side Effects Cancer FAQs Advanced Reading
A pituitary tumor is a tumor that grows in the pituitary gland - a small gland located behind the nasal sinuses and above the roof the mouth at the base of the skull. The pituitary gland regulates most of the other glands in the body.
Overview
Almost all pituitary tumors are benign, but they can still greatly affect a person's health by pressing against the optic nerves causing vision problems and by secreting excess amounts of hormones.
Understanding Your Diagnosis
Symptoms of a pituitary tumor include double or blurred vision, loss of peripheral vision, headaches, and dizzy spells. These could also be a sign of other problems, so it's important to have them checked by a doctor.
Deciding on Treatment
In most cases, pituitary tumors are treated by surgery, radiation therapy, or by using drugs that block the tumor's ability to produce hormones. Your doctor will determine the best treatment for you.
Managing Side Effects
After surgery, you may need to take replacement hormones, which do the work the pituitary gland once did. These replacement hormones may cause some side effects, but your doctor will help you to manage them.
Advanced Reading
Learn more about pituitary tumors from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Physician Data Query (PDQ®) for patients. It includes information about prevention, screening, and treatment.
