Endocrine Abstracts

A third of UK residents develop cancer, but the risk of being diagnosed under age 50 years is under 4%. The four most common cancers account for 54% of all cases: breast (16%), lung (13%), colorectal (13%) and prostate (12%). Five-year age standardised survival has increased substantially in recent decades for breast, prostate and colorectal cancer resulting in latest figures of 77, 65 and 48%, respectively. Cancer is increasingly becoming a curable or chronic disease. At the ...

A wide range of reproductive functions are susceptible to adverse affects from cancer treatment. Effects on spermatogenesis are more common than deficiencies in testosterone production, but in the female the gametogenic and steroidogenic aspects of gonadal function are more intimately associated. Radiotherapy can compromise hypothalamic and pituitary function, the ability of the uterus to support a pregnancy, and erectile function. Alkylating agents are regarded as having high...

The effects of cancer therapy on pituitary and thyroid function evolve over many years and therefore careful long term screening strategies are required. Knowledge of the initial cancer diagnosis, age at diagnosis, radiation field, radiation dose and duration of follow up can aid identification of survivors most at risk.Cranial irradiation to the hypothalamic pituitary axis increases the risk of pituitary dysfunction. The most common pituitary hormone to...

Overall survival following childhood cancer is 70% and for some conditions in excess of 90%. This success has come at a cost; 60–70% of patients have one or more on-going medical problem. The most frequent conditions encountered are endocrine in nature, ranging from hypothyroidism to panhypopituitarism. In addition, the prevalence of other medical problems is also increased including heart failure and second malignancy. Consequently this cohort of patients require life-lo...