The endocrine system is made up of endocrine glands. Endocrine glands produce hormones - chemicals that control many of our body's functions. Normally, the hormones released by endocrine glands are carefully balanced to meet the body's needs.
The endocrine glands include the pituitary gland (which lies immediately underneath the brain), the thyroid gland (in the front of the neck), the parathyroid glands (just behind the thyroid gland), and the adrenal glands (on top of the kidneys in the abdomen).
Endocrine tumours are classified according to:
- the particular endocrine glands that are involved
- the type of cell from which the cancer developed
- the part of the body that is affected
Symptoms will vary depending on the site of the tumour, if you have any concerns please contact us or your consultant/doctor.
*Information provided by Macmillan cancer support
At The Christie, endocrine tumours are treated by the endocrinology department.
We have some patient information booklets related to endocrine tumours - these may be relevant to you.