Barts and The London Cancer Centre
Endocrine cancers are rare and our team diagnoses and treats approximately 100 new patients every year. We offer comprehensive treatment, care and support to our patients with endocrine cancer.
Differentiated thyroid cancer
There are two types of differentiated thyroid cancer: papillary and follicular. For the majority of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer, treatment will involve surgery and radioactive iodine therapy. Every year at our centre we administer 100 doses of radioactive iodine for patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. With the right treatment, the outlook for most patients with cancer of the thyroid is good with many of them becoming completely cured.
Medullary thyroid cancer
Medullary thyroid cancer is a rare type of thyroid cancer that arises from a different cell type within the thyroid called the C-cell. In some cases, medullary thyroid cancer can occur within families so the relatives of patients are offered screening within our hospital. The most effective treatment is surgery, but some patients respond to radiotherapy, chemotherapy and radionuclide therapy. Unlike follicular and papillary thyroid cancer, medullary thyroid cancer cannot be treated with radioactive iodine.
Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma
Anaplastic thryroid carcinoma is a very aggressive type of thyroid cancer that is very difficult to treat. Surgery, radiotherapy and insertion of a tracheostomy may all play a role for certain patients.
Parathyroid carcinomas
Parathyroid glands are attached to the back of the thyroid gland which, in turn, sits at the front of the neck. These small glands produce parathyroid hormone which regulates the levels of calcium in the body. Parathyroid carcinomas almost always lead to the development of hyper calcaemia (high levels of calcium in the blood) causing symptoms of thirst, frequent urination, urination at night, excessive lethargy and often bone pain. Accurate localisation is essential to help guide effective surgery in treating this type of cancer. Treatment may also include radiotherapy and a new drug called cinacalcet holds promise.
Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs)
Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a group of tumours that start in the cells of the neuroendocrine system, many of them are slow growing and many produce a variety of hormones that may lead to symptoms such as flushing, wheezing, palpitations and anxiety. Treatment is aimed at controlling the size and/or spread of the NET and may include surgery, radiofrequency ablation (heating of the tumour until it dies), hepatic embolisation (blocking blood supply to the liver), chemotherapy, radiotherapy and radio nuclide therapy. The Barts and The London team has expertise in all of these areas for the treatment of NETs. Delivering this type of treatment requires the expertise of a multidisciplinary team including surgeons, endocrinologists, nuclear medicine physicians and radiologists.
Carcinoma of the adrenal cortex
The adrenal cortex produces different types of hormones – collectively known as steroids which regulate functions as varied as carbohydrate metabolism, blood pressure and salt and water levels in the body. Carcinoma of the adrenal cortex is a rare condition and may, in some cases, be associated with excessive production of certain steroid hormones. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy may all be used for the treatment of this rare type of cancer.
Cancerbackup - www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Cancertype/Endocrine/Overview