When you hear adrenal tumor, an abnormal growth on one or both adrenal glands that can produce excess hormones or remain silent. Also known as adrenal mass, it’s not always cancer—but it can still change how your body works in big ways. These glands sit right on top of your kidneys and make key hormones like cortisol, the stress hormone that controls metabolism and immune response, aldosterone, which regulates blood pressure and salt balance, and adrenaline. A tumor there doesn’t mean you have cancer, but it might mean your body is flooded with too much of one hormone—or not enough of another.
Some adrenal tumors are silent and found by accident during scans for other issues. Others cause clear signs: unexplained weight gain, high blood pressure that won’t go away with meds, muscle weakness, mood swings, or sudden panic attacks with sweating and racing heart. That last one? Could be a pheochromocytoma, a rare but dangerous type of adrenal tumor that overproduces adrenaline. If you’ve been told your blood pressure spikes for no reason, or you feel like you’re in a constant state of fight-or-flight, it’s worth asking if your adrenal glands are involved.
Not all adrenal tumors need surgery. Some just need monitoring. Others require medication to block hormone effects before removal. The big question isn’t just whether it’s cancer—it’s whether it’s active. A tumor that doesn’t make hormones might be harmless. One that pumps out cortisol can cause Cushing’s syndrome. One that makes too much aldosterone can wreck your electrolytes. And if it’s a pheochromocytoma, skipping treatment can lead to a life-threatening surge during stress or surgery.
The posts below cover real cases and practical advice: how hormone tests work, what imaging reveals, why some people need meds before surgery, and how certain drugs like beta blockers (used for anxiety or high blood pressure) can help manage symptoms before the tumor is removed. You’ll also find info on how adrenal issues interact with other conditions—like how low vitamin D might worsen fatigue in people with hormone imbalances, or how blood thinners can complicate surgery if a tumor is causing abnormal clotting. This isn’t theory. These are the real-world details people are dealing with right now.
