What are the treatment options for pituitary tumour?

Some pituitary tumours do not need immediate treatment and can be followed with MRI scans, vision checks and hormone tests. Medicines may reduce excess hormone production or replace hormones that the tumour or treatment has affected. Brain tumour surgery is often considered when the tumour presses on the optic nerves, causes significant symptoms or cannot be controlled with medicine. Radiotherapy may be used when tumour tissue remains, grows again or needs longer-term control. An endocrinologist, neurosurgeon, eye specialist and radiation oncologist may contribute to the plan.

Ask which hormones have been tested and whether your vision has been formally assessed. Keep a record of headaches, changes in sight, menstrual or sexual changes, thirst, urination, weight and energy. Bring your medicines to every appointment because steroid or other hormone replacement may need careful adjustment. Ask how often MRI and blood tests are needed, and whether surgery or radiotherapy could affect pituitary function. Do not stop prescribed hormone medicine without medical guidance.

Get emergency help for sudden severe headache, new loss of vision, double vision, confusion, fainting, vomiting with marked weakness or difficulty staying awake. These can signal pressure or an abrupt hormone problem. Contact your team quickly for worsening headaches, narrowing vision, unusual thirst and urination, or symptoms after surgery or radiotherapy.

Is the tumour producing a hormone? Is it touching the optic nerves? Could monitoring or medicine control it? What would surgery involve? Could treatment change my hormone replacement or vision?