Learn About Pituitary Tumor Treatments

Pituitary tumors, as you'd expect, are in your pituitary gland. This is the gland that keeps control over your hormones! However, the tumor compromises this control! Ladies, it will mean too few hormones or too many, and neither is great for your body. There is, though, some good news! Most pituitary tumors aren't cancerous. They're called adenomas instead, and they don't grow much beyond the pituitary gland.

Pituitary treatment is still very important! Typically, you'll start with medications for pituitary tumors. Surgery for pituitary tumors is another early treatment! Natural remedies for pituitary tumors exist, though they're only supportive. You need the traditional ones! That said, the best treatment for pituitary tumors can change. Ladies, it's vital to understand what your choices are and also discuss them with a doctor!

Craniotomy

Pituitary tumors are often removed with a craniotomy. This is a great surgery! Ladies, you'll need to be under general anesthesia for it. Your surgeon will have an assistant shave your head. Then they'll go in! Most of the time, they'll drill a hole just above your pituitary gland. They have to remove some of your skull so they can access it! Then, it's time to get the tumor out of your head! Your surgeon will try removing all of the tumor, but they'll also try to avoid brain damage. This is why they don't always get the whole tumor! Once they're done with your pituitary tumor, they'll repair or replace the part of your skull they took out. This will happen with some screws, wires, or plates!

Dopamine Agonists

Dopamine is a crucial part of your brain. This neurotransmitter controls many things! Changes in how much you have mean issues in your behavior, mood, and memory. You'll often have movement problems too, especially with a pituitary tumor! These tumors mean you won't have enough dopamine. However, you'll be prescribed dopamine agonists to help! These meds mimic the effects of dopamine. That said, older versions of them cause lots of cardiovascular side effects. The newer ones do this less! The newer medications also target more specific dopamine receptors.

Watch out for common side effects like sleepiness and dizziness with dopamine agonists. These are why you have to avoid driving at first! You'll need to stop taking it under close watch for your doctor. Withdrawal symptoms happen if you don't! They include pain problems and organ failure. Keeping to the right dose is key too, since high ones trigger mental health issues and compulsive behavior!

Somatostatin Analogs

Somatostatin is very important, since it impacts hormone production. It slows down how much gut hormone, insulin, and growth hormone you make! This substance can even stop it. Ladies, this substance is vital for you to empty your stomach and bowels too! Unfortunately, pituitary tumors often mean you're going to have too many hormones. This is why doctors prescribe somatostatin analogs! This type of medication is artificial somatostatin.

When this medication works, you'll have more control over things like diarrhea and skin flushing. These are signs of carcinoid syndrome, which these tumors trigger! Ladies, some of you will even find that this medication shrinks your tumor! It comes through an injection. A nurse will normally give this to you, but they can teach you to do it yourself when needed!

Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Stereotactic radiosurgery is another common option for getting rid of pituitary tumors. This is one that doctors try if meds for pituitary tumors don't work! They'll recommend it for tumors that grow or recur. This type of radiation is even great for when tumors can't be removed all through surgery! You'll need fewer radiation doses here than in the traditional type too. Most ladies get 1 to 5 doses! Stereotactic radiosurgery is also quite focused, which helps lessen side effects. You'll get this treatment through a gamma knife or linear accelerator. Your doctor picks what they believe will work the best for you!

External Beam Radiation

External beam radiation is another great form of radiation therapy. You'll receive this treatment when your pituitary tumor is cancerous! Ladies, the radiation doses here are going to help shrink your tumor and destroy the cancerous parts! External beam radiation comes from a special X-ray machine outside your body. It's never going to touch you! This machine creates custom beams for the shape of your tumor. WIth pituitary tumors, you'll often get focused beam radiation. This means, ladies, that the beams target your tumor better, causing less damage to healthy tissues and organs. This is great since these tumors are by your brain!