Dr. Christopher Sonnier on Endocrine Disorders Related to Cancer Treatment
Dr. Christopher S. Sonnier imparts that invariable findings indicate that secondary health complications or ‘late effects’ are prevalent due to cancer treatment. Despite the efficacy of these breakthrough procedures, and climatically bolstering life expectancy in patients, harrowing data elicits greater scrutiny in terms of monitoring patients long-term.
It’s incredible how far medical advances have metamorphosed our perceptions of cancer — offering us much more than blind hope. In fact, the American Cancer Society shares that increasingly, more children are battling cancer with tremendous success and living well into adulthood. Statistically, 80% of children treated with cancer survive at least 5 years, indicating we could inherently trust in the effectiveness of cancer treatment. However, Dr. Sonnier, an endocrinologist from Blacksburg, VA reveals that endocrine, as well as metabolic disorders, are common complications of cancer treatment. A lofty 40–50 % of cancer survivors will develop an endocrine disorder, surfacing months or potentially years after treatment has ended.
The Endocrine System 101:
Your endocrine system consists of a series of glands and organs to produce and secrete hormones into the bloodstream which the body will use for an immense classification of operations. Dr. Christopher Sonnier explains, your movement, growth, sensory perception, metabolism, respiration, sexual development, and reproduction all respond to this activity — more precise, they are manipulated through the chemical signals they receive to perform their distinct functions. The hypothalamus, pineal, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenals, pancreas, testes and ovaries are the endocrine glands which could become high-risk zones in cancer adult survivors.
The Effects Of Radiation Therapy:
Dr. Sonnier asserts that the effects of radiation therapy are not limited to localized devastation, rather the entire body may be affected by all sources of radiation — depending on both the extent and dosage of irradiation. Every organ and endocrine gland can potentially be influenced by its potent exposure, with the pituitary, thyroid, and gonads more susceptible to trauma. Between 60–100% of cancer patients will experience hypothalamic pituitary hormone defects after radiation exposure.
The Effects Of Chemotherapy:
Although chemotherapy effectually destroys cancer cells, it also corrupts healthy cells in your endocrine system inducing both short- and long-term effects. A child undergoing chemotherapy is highly susceptible to cell damage as they are still developing. Cells which are healthy and normal are rapidly dividing and chemotherapy in all its capacity may corrupt these cells, hindering them from thriving. Chemotherapy agents are less pervasive than of radiation therapy but nevertheless, both chemotherapy and radiation therapy play key roles in propelling negative influences in the endocrine system.
Growth Hormone (GH) Deficiency:
GH Deficiency is directly analogous to radiation therapy and is also the most prevalent of endocrine complexities. Ensuing harsh cancer treatments, quite often the pituitary gland is unable to produce ample growth hormone perceptible by increased body fat, growth failure in young survivors, decreased muscle strength, weakening of bones, high levels of cholesterol, feelings of fatigue, irritability, anxiety, lack of motivation are distinct emotions, a diminished interest in sex are distinct emotions indicative of GH Deficiency.
Hypothyroidism:
Endocrine expert, Dr. Christopher Sonnier explains that statistically 50% of patients treated with external beam radiation therapy for neck and head cancer developed hypothyroidism. The endocrine disorder is characterized by the thyroids inability to produce enough thyroid hormone. The thyroid produces hormones which manipulate your metabolism, affecting vital life functions — notably, temperature regulation, heart rate, digestion, and muscle and brain function. Radiation to the thyroid gland damages the body’s normal, healthy tissue while slaying cancer cells. It’s a double-edged sword.
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH):
Dr. Sonnier explains, the pituitary gland notably produces a hormone called adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). This function is paramount as it prompts the adrenal glands to conceive an alternate hormone called cortisol. When the pituitary gland doesn’t generate ample ACTH, the adrenal glands will cease to produce this integral hormone. Cortisol regulates blood sugar levels cooperated with your body to cope with physical stress. Cancer survivors with their pituitary gland removed or have received radiation targeting the brain have an increased risk for adrenal insufficiency.
Hyperprolactinemia (HP):
The onset of HP, which plausibly emerge months or even years later is a dominant result of radiotherapy. HP disorders surface in succession and are dose dependent. An elevated measure of the hormone prolactin manifesting after a substantial dose of radiation precipitating: a delay in puberty, Osteopenia (low bone mineral density). Women may experience abnormal menstruation and hot flashes and infertility. Men may suffer from erectile dysfunction and a decrease in libido in both men and women is quite typical.
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) And Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Deficiency:
Akin to growth, fertility is also affected by the pituitary gland. FSH and LH deficiency compels delayed or worst case, the absence of puberty. This reveals itself through a lack of breast development in girls or penis enlargement in boys. Women will experience secondary amenorrhea and sexually mature adults struggle with a loss of libido.
Where Does This Lead Us?
Dr. Christopher Sonnier, trusted by both his peers in the medical field and patients, articulates that a focus on the late effects of cancer treatment should not merely be on the forefront of care but research as well. Surgery, radiological evaluations, chemotherapy, and stem cell transplants, and the effects of the cancer tumor itself may expediently harm your endocrine system. The Endocrine Society has recently issued new clinical practice guidelines which will assist health care providers with diagnosing and treating hypothalamic-pituitary and growth disorders.
With cancer treatments potentially impairing the body’s organs, tissues or bones studying late effects is pivotal in order to inspire changes in treatment for cancer survivors to live healthy lives. It should be the catalyst for realizing that lifelong monitoring is key with life-long endocrine screening becoming most pivotal. Dr. Sonnier articulates that being able to identify symptoms in both early and advanced stages is vital. Although adding, the benefits of cancer care leading to controlling the disease or remission monumentally eclipse the risks of endocrine disorders even more so when treatable in patients who have survived childhood cancers.
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