Health Library

16 results for endocrine


  • Childhood Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN) Syndromes Treatment (PDQ®): Treatment - Patient Information [NCI]

    Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) syndromes are inherited disorders that affect the endocrine system. The endocrine system is made up of glands and cells that make hormones and release them into the blood. MEN syndromes may cause hyperplasia (the growth of too many normal cells) or tumors that may be benign...

  • Hormone Treatment for Breast Cancer

    Some breast cancers need the hormones estrogen or progesterone to grow. These cancer cells have "receptors" on their surface that let hormones in. One type is called estrogen-receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer. Another type is called progesterone-

  • Hyperthyroidism: Graves' Ophthalmopathy

    Graves' ophthalmopathy, also called thyroid eye disease, is an autoimmune disease that can occur in people with Graves' disease. In Graves' ophthalmopathy, the tissues and muscles behind the eyes become swollen. The eyeballs may stick out farther...

  • Pituitary Tumors Treatment (PDQ®): Treatment - Patient Information [NCI]

    A pituitary tumor is a growth of abnormal cells in the tissues of the pituitary gland. Pituitary tumors form in the pituitary gland, a pea-sized organ in the center of the brain, just above the back of the nose. The pituitary gland is sometimes called the "master endocrine gland" because...

  • Inflammatory Breast Cancer

    What is inflammatory breast cancer? Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare, fast-growing type of breast cancer. It is often called IBC for short. Unlike other breast cancers, this type of cancer may not cause a lump in the breast. So screening mammograms often fail to catch it early. Because it...

  • Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer (Androgen Deprivation Therapy, or ADT)

    Hormone therapy treats prostate cancer by lowering the level of certain hormones in the body. These hormones are called androgens. Prostate cancer needs androgens to grow. The main androgen is testosterone. Reducing the level of testosterone can slow the growth of prostate cancer and even shrink the tumors. The...

  • Medical and Nonmedical Options for Gender Affirmation

    Gender identity is your inner sense of being male, female, both, neither, or some other gender. And for some people, gender identity can shift or be flexible. There are a variety of terms that people may use to describe their gender identity. For...

  • Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)

    Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a test that uses a special type of camera and a tracer (a radioactive substance) to look at organs or bones in the body. During the test, the tracer liquid is put into a vein (intravenous, or I.V.

  • Thyroid Cancer Screening (PDQ®): Screening - Patient Information [NCI]

    Screening is looking for cancer before a person has any symptoms. This can help find cancer at an early stage. When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat. By the time symptoms appear, cancer may have begun to spread. Scientists are trying to better...

  • Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma Treatment (PDQ®): Treatment - Patient Information [NCI]

    Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma are rare tumors that come from the same type of tissue. Paragangliomas form in nerve tissue in the adrenal glands and near certain blood vessels and nerves. Paragangliomas that form in the adrenal glands are called pheochromocytomas. Paragangliomas that form outside the adrenal glands...