Fifth Annual Cushing’s Awareness Challenge

The Cushing’s Awareness Challenge is almost upon us again!

Do you blog? Want to get started?

Since April 8 is Cushing’s Awareness Day, several people got their heads together to create the Fifth Annual Cushing’s Awareness Blogging Challenge.

All you have to do is blog about something Cushing’s related for the 30 days of April.

There will also be a logo for your blog to show show you’ve participated.

Please let me know the URL to your blog in the comments area of this post, on the Facebook page, in one of the Facebook Groups, on the message boards or an email  and I will list it on CushieBloggers ( http://cushie-blogger.blogspot.com/)

The more people who participate, the more the word will get out about Cushing’s.

Suggested topics – or add your own!

• In what ways have Cushing’s made you a better person?
• What have you learned about the medical community since you have become sick?
• If you had one chance to speak to an endocrinologist association meeting, what would you tell them about Cushing’s patients?
• What would you tell the friends and family of another Cushing’s patient in order to garner more emotional support for your friend? challenge with Cushing’s? How have you overcome challenges? Stuff like that.
• I have Cushing’s Disease….(personal synopsis)
• How I found out I have Cushing’s
• What is Cushing’s Disease/Syndrome? (Personal variation, i.e. adrenal or pituitary or ectopic, etc.)
• My challenges with Cushing’s
• Overcoming challenges with Cushing’s (could include any challenges)
• If I could speak to an endocrinologist organization, I would tell them….
• What would I tell others trying to be diagnosed?
• What would I tell families of those who are sick with Cushing’s?
• Treatments I’ve gone through to try to be cured/treatments I may have to go through to be cured.
• What will happen if I’m not cured?
• I write about my health because…
• 10 Things I Couldn’t Live Without.
• My Dream Day.
• What I learned the hard way
• Miracle Cure. (Write a news-style article on a miracle cure. What’s the cure? How do you get the cure? Be sure to include a disclaimer)
• Give yourself, your condition, or your health focus a mascot. Is it a real person? Fictional? Mythical being? Describe them. Bonus points if you provide a visual!
• 5 Challenges & 5 Small Victories.
• The First Time I…
• Make a word cloud or tree with a list of words that come to mind when you think about your blog, health, or interests. Use a thesaurus to make it branch more.
• How much money have you spent on Cushing’s, or, How did Cushing’s impact your life financially?
• Why do you think Cushing’s may not be as rare as doctors believe?
• What is your theory about what causes Cushing’s?
• How has Cushing’s altered the trajectory of your life? What would you have done? Who would you have been
• What three things has Cushing’s stolen from you? What do you miss the most? What can you do in your Cushing’s life to still achieve any of those goals?
• What new goals did Cushing’s bring to you?
• How do you cope?
• What do you do to improve your quality of life as you fight Cushing’s?
• How Cushing’s affects children and their families
• Your thoughts…?

Cushing's Awareness Challenge 2015

The Cushing's Awareness Challenge is almost upon us again!

Do you blog? Want to get started?

Since April 8 is Cushing's Awareness Day, several people got their heads together to create the Fourth Annual Cushing's Awareness Blogging Challenge.

All you have to do is blog about something Cushing's related for the 30 days of April.

There will also be a logo for your blog to show show you've participated.

Please let me know the URL to your blog in the comments area of this post or an email and I will list it on CushieBloggers ( http://cushie-blogger.blogspot.com/)

The more people who participate, the more the word will get out about Cushing's.

Suggested topics - or add your own!

• In what ways have Cushing's made you a better person?
• What have you learned about the medical community since you have become sick?
• If you had one chance to speak to an endocrinologist association meeting, what would you tell them about Cushing's patients?
• What would you tell the friends and family of another Cushing's patient in order to garner more emotional support for your friend? challenge with Cushing's? How have you overcome challenges? Stuff like that.
• I have Cushing's Disease....(personal synopsis)
• How I found out I have Cushing's
• What is Cushing's Disease/Syndrome? (Personal variation, i.e. adrenal or pituitary or ectopic, etc.)
• My challenges with Cushing's
• Overcoming challenges with Cushing's (could include any challenges)
• If I could speak to an endocrinologist organization, I would tell them....
• What would I tell others trying to be diagnosed?
• What would I tell families of those who are sick with Cushing's?
• Treatments I've gone through to try to be cured/treatments I may have to go through to be cured.
• What will happen if I'm not cured?
• I write about my health because…
• 10 Things I Couldn’t Live Without.
• My Dream Day.
• What I learned the hard way
• Miracle Cure. (Write a news-style article on a miracle cure. What’s the cure? How do you get the cure? Be sure to include a disclaimer)
• Health Madlib Poem. Go to : http://languageisavirus.com/cgi-bin/madlibs.pl#.VPGZQlPF9A8 and fill in the parts of speech and the site will generate a poem for you.
• The Things We Forget. Visit http://thingsweforget.blogspot.com/ and make your own version of a short memo reminder. Where would you post it?
• Give yourself, your condition, or your health focus a mascot. Is it a real person? Fictional? Mythical being? Describe them. Bonus points if you provide a visual!
• 5 Challenges & 5 Small Victories.
• The First Time I…
• Make a word cloud or tree with a list of words that come to mind when you think about your blog, health, or interests. Use a thesaurus to make it branch more.
• How much money have you spent on Cushing's, or, How did Cushing's impact your life financially?
• Why do you think Cushing's may not be as rare as doctors believe?
• What is your theory about what causes Cushing's?
• How has Cushing's altered the trajectory of your life? What would you have done? Who would you have been
• What three things has Cushing's stolen from you? What do you miss the most? What can you do in your Cushing's life to still achieve any of those goals?
• What new goals did Cushing's bring to you?
• How do you cope?
• What do you do to improve your quality of life as you fight Cushing's?
• How Cushing's affects children and their families
• Your thoughts...?

Men Get Cushing's, Too!

Robin (staticnrg) writes:

“If you don’t have a blog or don’t have the time to blog, you can still share for 30 days. MoxieMelissaTx and I are trying to make it easy for you. Share others’ blog posts. Share the info-graphics we are putting up each day. Tell your own story. Do a Wordle. Do something. It can be one day, or all 30 days. The more we talk about Cushing’s, the more folks will find out about it and/or realize they have it.”

I wanted to share Robin’s graphic.  It’s rare for men to have Cushing’s, even rarer than women.

Some men do get Cushing’s, though.  Some of their bios are here: http://www.cushie.info/index.php/cushing-s/news-items/14-bios-of-male-patients

Cushing's Awareness Month, April 2014

Thanks to Robin for this wonderful logo!  I’ve participated in these 30 days for Cushing’s Awareness several times so I’m not quite sure what is left to say this year but I always want to get the word out when I can.

 As I see it, there’s not a whole lot of change in the diagnosis or treatment of Cushing’s since last year.  (Apparently, Dr Harvey Cushing would have agreed with me: http://cushieblog.com/2014/04/03/what-would-harvey-cushing-say-about-cushings-disease-today/ )

 Maybe this is the year…?

Cushing’s Awareness Patient Day

Saturday, February 1st, 2014

San Francisco, California

Hosted by Kate Tully, R.N. and Katherine Waidner, R.N.
Cushing’s Patient Advocates – Corcept Therapeutics

Agenda and details to follow

The day will focus on endogenous Cushing’s, a condition caused by high cortisol in your body.

The day will not cover exogenous Cushing’s caused by steroids taken for various health conditions including asthma, arthritis or lupus.

US FDA approves Novartis' Signifor for first medication to treat Cushing's disease

Basel

Monday, December 17, 2012, 16:00 Hrs  [IST]

 

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Novartis' Signifor (pasireotide) injection for the treatment of adult patients with Cushing's disease for whom pituitary surgery is not an option or has not been curative. 

 

Signifor is the first medicine to be approved in the US that addresses the underlying mechanism of Cushing's disease, a serious, debilitating endocrine disorder caused by the presence of a non-cancerous pituitary tumour which ultimately leads to excess cortisol in the body.

 

This approval follows a unanimous recommendation from the FDA Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee (EMDAC) in support of the use of Signifor.

 

"The FDA approval of Signifor for Cushing's disease brings a novel pituitary-directed therapy to patients with limited treatment options," said Hervé Hoppenot, president, Novartis Oncology. "Today's milestone reinforces Novartis' commitment to addressing unmet needs and advancing treatments for rare pituitary-related disorders."

 

Cushing's disease most commonly affects adults as young as 20 to 50 years and affects women three times more often than men. It may present with weight gain, central obesity, a round, red full face, severe fatigue and weakness, striae (purple stretch marks), high blood pressure, depression and anxiety. Cushing's disease can cause severe illness and death with mortality up to four times higher than in the healthy population.

 

The approval is based on data from PASPORT-CUSHINGS (PASireotide clinical trial PORTfolio - CUSHING'S disease), the largest randomized Phase III study to evaluate a medical therapy in patients with Cushing's disease. Results from the PASPORT-CUSHINGS study found that a decrease in mean urinary-free cortisol (UFC), the key measure of biochemical control of the disease, was sustained during the treatment period in most patients with a subset of patients reaching normal levels. The study also showed that certain clinical manifestations of Cushing's disease tended to improve.

 

"Patients with Cushing's disease may suffer from debilitating manifestations, and there are many serious health complications associated with the disease," said Mary Andrews, CEO and Co-Founder of the US non-profit, The MAGIC Foundation. "The FDA approval of Signifor offers the option of a medical therapy that may help certain patients with Cushing's disease."

 

In April 2012, the European Commission approved Signiforfor the treatment of adult patients with Cushing's disease for whom surgery is not an option or for whom surgery has failed. Other worldwide regulatory filings for pasireotide for this use are also underway.

Signifor (pasireotide) is approved in the US for the treatment of adult patients with Cushing's disease for whom pituitary surgery is not an option or has not been curative, and in the European Union for the treatment of adult patients with Cushing's disease for whom surgery is not an option or for whom surgery has failed.

 

For the treatment of Cushing's disease, Signifor has been studied as a twice-daily subcutaneous (sc) injection and is currently being evaluated as a long-acting release (LAR), once-monthly intramuscular (IM) injection as part of a global Phase III program in Cushing's disease and acromegaly. Signifor is a multireceptor targeting somatostatin analog that binds with high affinity to four of the five somatostatin receptor subtypes (sst 1, 2, 3 and 5).

 

From http://pharmabiz.com/NewsDetails.aspx?aid=72752&sid=2

Cushing Syndrome Overview

Cushing’s syndrome (pronounced KOOSH-ingz SIN-drohm) is a condition that occurs when a person’s body tissues are exposed over time to too much of the hormone cortisol (pronouncedKAWR-tuh-sawl). The syndrome can be caused by taking certain medicines or, less commonly, it can be caused by noncancerous or cancerous tumors. Cushing’s syndrome includes a range of symptoms, but they can be treated and, in most cases, the syndrome can be cured. The NICHD is one of the many federal agencies that support and conduct research on the causes of Cushing’s syndrome, detection of its symptoms as soon as possible, and development of improved treatments.

For more information about this topic, select the Condition Information, Research Information, Clinical Trials, or Resources and Publications link in the menu on the left.

Fast Facts

Common Name

• Cushing's syndrome

Scientific Name

• Hyperadrenocorticism (pronounced HAHY-per-uh-dree-noh-KAWR-ti-siz-uhm)
• Hypercortisolism (pronounced HAHY-per-KAWR-ti-sol-iz-uhm)

Causes

The most common cause of Cushing’s syndrome is taking medication that contains the hormone cortisol. This leaves the body with more cortisol than it would normally contain from the natural production of cortisol.¹ Less commonly, a cancerous or noncancerous tumor in the body can cause too much cortisol production.²

Number of People Affected

Among 1 million people, two or three will develop endogenous (non-medicine-related) Cushing’s syndrome each year in the United States.³ Women are three times more likely than men to have the condition.⁴

Common Symptoms

The symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome vary, especially in mild cases, but patients may have some or most of the following¹:

• Upper-body obesity, with thin arms and legs
• A round, red face
• Skin problems, such as acne, reddish-blue streaks, or easy bruising
• Muscle and bone weakness, including backache
• Fat that collects between the shoulders
• Poor growth in children⁵

Common Treatments

In most cases Cushing’s syndrome can be cured. The treatment depends on what is causing the excess cortisol in the body.^6,7

Cushing’s syndrome can be treated by the following:

• Medication. If medication is to blame, a health care provider can reduce the dose or change the type of drug.
• Overproduction. If the body is making too much cortisol because of a tumor, treatments may include oral medication, surgery, radiation, or a combination of these approaches.

 

---

1. Stewart P. M., & Krone, N. P. (2011). The adrenal cortex. In Kronenberg, H. M., Shlomo, M., Polonsky, K. S., & Larsen, P. R. (Eds.). Williams textbook of endocrinology (12th ed.) (chap. 15). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier. [top]
2. Nieman, L. K., & Ilias, I. (2005) Evaluation and treatment of Cushing’s syndrome. Journal of American Medicine, 118(12), 1340-1346. PMID 16378774. [top]
3. Lindholm, J., Juul, S., Jørgensen, J. O. L, Astrup, J., Bjerre, P., Feldt-Rasmussen, U., et al. (2001). Incidence and late prognosis of Cushing’s syndrome: A population-based study. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 86(1), 117-123. PMID 11231987. [top]
4. Steffensen, C., Bak, A. M., Rubeck, K. Z., & Jørgensen, J. O. (2010). Epidemiology of Cushing’s syndrome. Neuroendocrinology, 92(Suppl 1), 1-5. PMID 20829610. [top]
5. Batista, D. L., Riar, J., Keil, M., & Stratakis, C.A. (2007). Diagnostic tests for children who are referred for the investigation of Cushing syndrome. Pediatrics, 120(3), e575-e586. [top]
6. Nieman, L. K., Biller, B. M. K., Findling, J. W., Newell-Price, J., Savage, M. O., et al. (2008). The diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome: An Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. Retrieved April 8, 2012, fromhttp://www.endo-society.org/guidelines/final/upload/Cushings_Guideline.pdf (PDF - 510 KB). [top]
7. Boscaro, M., & Arnaldi, G. (2009). Approach to the patient with possible Cushing’s syndrome. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 94(9), 3121. [top]

---

Last Updated Date: 11/30/2012
Last Reviewed Date: 11/30/2012

From https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/cushing/Pages/default.aspx

Magic Foundation Cushing's Conference, 2013

Dates:

Friday, April 19, 2013 - Registration and exhibits-4 PM to 9 PM

Saturday, April 20, 2013 - Educational segments

Sunday, April 21, 2013 – Educational Segments

Monday, April 22, 2013 – Departure or visiting sites of Las Vegas

 

Registration: $155 for members $190 for non-members (includes 1 yr membership)

Registration fee includes: Thursday exhibits and refreshments, Friday continental breakfast, and lunch and Saturday continental breakfast and lunch. An optional dinner will be held on Friday night for $25.00 per person.

For additional attendees in your family there will be no registration fee but a $75 charge for inclusion of the segments and meals. (optional dinner on Friday night not included in the $75 fee)

 

Accommodations:

Tuscany Suites & Casino (Just off the Las Vegas Strip)

255 East Flamingo Rd

Las Vegas, NV

Guest room costs: 

Friday and Saturday $105 per guestroom, single or double occupancy ($117.60 w/tax)

Sunday thru Thursday $65 per guestroom, single or double occupancy ($72.80 w/tax)

Reservations made after March 20, 2013 at noon will be charged the prevailing room rate if accommodations are available. To book your room you must call Tuscany Room Reservations, 877-887-2261 and ask for MAGIC Foundation group rates. You will be required to provide a major credit card for the first night’s room and tax deposit, which will be charged in order to guarantee accommodations.

Evaluation of depression, quality of life and body image in patients with Cushing’s disease

Nilufer Alcalar, Sedat Ozkan, Pinar Kadioglu, Ozlem Celik, Penbe Cagatay, Baris Kucukyuruk and Nurperi Gazioglu

 

• Download PDF (220.3 KB)
• View HTML

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate patients with Cushing’s disease (CD) who had undergone transsphenoidal surgery in terms of depression, quality of life (QoL), and perception of body image in comparison to healthy controls.

Forty patients with CD and 40 healthy controls matched for demographic characteristics were included in the study. The subjects were evaluated with the Beck depression inventory (BDI), the health survey-short form (SF-36) and the multidimensional body-self relations questionnaire (MBSRQ). Subgroups of the patients with CD were formed on the basis of remission status and BDI scores. In this study, QoL in the general health category and body image were lower in the patients with CD than in the healthy subjects. However, no differences in depression scores were found between the two groups.

When the CD group was evaluated according to remission rate, the mean BDI score was significantly higher in the CD patients without remission than in both the CD patients with remission and the healthy subjects (p = 0.04). However, the physical functioning, bodily pain and general health scores of the CD patients without remission on the SF-36 questionnaire were lower than in the CD patients in remission and the healthy subjects (p = 0.002, p = 0.04, p = 0.002, respectively). Fitness evaluation, health evaluation and body areas satisfaction scores of the MBSRQ were significantly different in the three groups (p = 0.003, p = 0.009 and p = 0.001, respectively). In this study, patients with CD were found to have lower QoL, lower body image perception and higher levels of depression compared to healthy controls, particularly if the disease is persistant despite surgery.

Keywords  Cushing’s disease – Pituitary surgery – Depression – Quality of life – Body image

Fulltext Preview

 

 

Share Your Cushing's Story on TV

A new series on Lifetime TV's daily morning talk show, The Balancing Act is featuring Cushings Syndrome.

Producers are looking for patients to share their stories in the comments of their landing page for Unveiling the Mystery: Rare and Genetic Diseases!

http://www.thebalancingact.com/rare/

Cushing's, The "Gift" that Keeps on Giving

I had an eye doctor appointment yesterday. No problems, just a routine check, maybe update my contacts to a newer version.

I was completely not ready when the doctor said "cataracts" to me. Say what? I'm not that old.  He mentioned a few other things like macular degeneration but that was less distressing to me somehow than the Cataract Word.

They're not bad yet.  They're slow growing.  I won't need to do anything about them for 7-8 years.  AARRGGHH!

My mother is waiting for her cataract surgery.  Maybe we can do this together, a bonding thing.

When I got home and all the eye drops had worn off, I looked at the brochures he had given me.  One of the symptoms was light insensitivity.  So that explains why I have trouble first thing in the morning and it hurts to open my eyes and other bright lights can be painful.  It's nice to be validated but...

Then, I turned the page to find contributing factors and came upon the word STEROIDS.  Not again!  Almost all the problems in my life start with the word steroids.  I did a search of the Cushing's Help boards for "Cataracts" and came up with 84 entries.  How could I have missed this?

From Cigna.com:

The eye conditions glaucoma and cataracts also may occur in Cushing's syndrome. In Cushing's disease (tumors on the pituitary gland), your field of vision can be affected. You may have loss of side, or peripheral, vision.

Surgical Versus Medical Treatment for Cushing Disease, the New and the Old

Surgical Versus Medical Treatment for Cushing Disease the New and the Old

Interview with Dr. Amir H. Hamrahian

Amir H. Hamrahian, MD, is a Staff member in the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Cleveland Clinic's main campus, having accepted that appointment in 2005. Prior to that appointment, he was also a clinical associate there for nearly five years. 

His clinical interests include pituitary and adrenal disorders.

Dr. Hamrahian received his medical degree from Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey, and upon graduation was a general practitioner in the provinces of Hamadan and Tehran, Iran. He completed an internal medicine residency at the University of North Dakota, Fargo, and an endocrinology fellowship at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals, Cleveland.

In 2003, he received the Teacher of the Year award from Cleveland Clinic's Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. Dr. Hamrahian speaks three languages -- English, Turkish and Farsi -- and is board-certified in internal medicine as well as endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism. He is a member of the Endocrine Society, Pituitary Society and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

Some of the questions answered in this interview October 1, 2012 include (not in this order):

 

• Can you tell me a little about you endocrine practice and your experience with Cushing’s as part of your practice?
• What are some of biggest challenges you have in treating Cushing’s?
• How do you test cyclical/episodic Cushing's?
• Can someone with cyclical/episodic Cushing's take Korlym?
• I know that Cushing's patients (those that currently have it and/or are cured/in remission can have healthy pregnancies with the right care. How do doctors support this process? Through an endocrinologist and a high-risk ob/gyn? And what sort of treatment is given throughout the pregnancy to prevent hypercortisolism.
• While many patients have a successful long term result from surgery, there are just as many that don’t. Do you find that there are any particular challenges treating patients with Cushing’s disease when pituitary surgery has already failed?
• As I understand, you were an investigator in the clinical trial for Korlym, and I think you treated 4 patients. Did these patients all have a previous surgery that had failed?
• Many Cushing’s patients are trying to understand if they might be candidates for Korlym treatment, can you tell me a little history about the types of patients you treated with Korlym?  I hear that not all patients can take Korlym. Which type of patient should not take it?
• Every past treatment for Cushing’s has always had the goal of lowering cortisol levels, but Korlym doesn’t lower cortisol levels, can you explain how it works?
• So, how do you judge success for a Cushing’s patient on Korlym?
• I lost copious amounts of hair while on Korlym, is this a known side effect?
• Are there any long term reproductive implications due to use of Korlym?

Listen to this interview at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cushingshelp/2012/10/01/dr-amir-hamrahian-answers-our-questions or to the podcast by searching for Cushings in the iTunes podcast area or click here: http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/cushingshelp-cushie-chats/id350591438

 

 

Transsphenoidal Microsurgery for Cushing’s Disease: Initial Outcome and Long-Term Results

Transsphenoidal Microsurgery for Cushing’s Disease: Initial Outcome and Long-Term Results

Dr. Amir Hamrahian Answers Our Questions About Cushing's and Korlym

October 1, 2012 at 6:30 PM eastern, Dr. Amir Hamrahian will answer our questions about Cushing's, pituitary or adrenal issues and Korlym (mifepristone) in BlogTalkRadio at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cushingshelp/2012/10/01/dr-amir-hamrahian-answers-our-questions

 

You may listen live at the link above.  The episode will be added to the Cushing's Help podcast after the show is over.  Listen to the podcasts by searching for Cushings in the iTunes podcast area or click here: http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/cushingshelp-cushie-chats/id350591438

 

Dr. Hamrahian has had patients on Korlym for about 4 years.

 

Please submit your questions below or email them to CushingsHelp@gmail.com before Sunday, September 30.

 

From Dr. Hamrahian's bio at http://my.clevelandclinic.org/staff_directory/staff_display.aspx?doctorid=3676

 

 

Amir Hamrahian, M.D. 

(216) 444-6568

Appointed: 2000

Request an Appointment

Department:Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

Location:Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Mail Code F20 
9500 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44195

Appointment:(216) 444-6568

Desk:(216) 445-8538

Fax:(216) 445-1656

Department:Brain Tumor and Neuro-Oncology Center

Location:Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Mail Code R20 
9500 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44195

Appointment:(216) 444-6568

Desk:(216) 445-8538

Fax:(216) 445-1656

Surgeon:

No

Treats:

Adults Only

Research & Publications †

( † Disclaimer: This search is powered by PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. PubMed is a third-party website with no affiliation with Cleveland Clinic.)

Biographical Sketch

Amir H. Hamrahian, MD, is a Staff member in the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Cleveland Clinic's main campus, having accepted that appointment in 2005. Prior to that appointment, he was also a clinical associate there for nearly five years. 

His clinical interests include pituitary and adrenal disorders.

Dr. Hamrahian received his medical degree from Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey, and upon graduation was a general practitioner in the provinces of Hamadan and Tehran, Iran. He completed an internal medicine residency at the University of North Dakota, Fargo, and an endocrinology fellowship at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals, Cleveland.

In 2003, he received the Teacher of the Year award from Cleveland Clinic's Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. Dr. Hamrahian speaks three languages -- English, Turkish and Farsi -- and is board-certified in internal medicine as well as endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism. He is a member of the Endocrine Society, Pituitary Society and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

Education & Fellowships

Fellowship - University Hospitals of Cleveland

Endocrinology
Cleveland, OH USA
2000

Residency - University of North Dakota Hospital

Internal Medicine
Fargo, ND USA
1997

Medical School - Hacettepe University School of Medicine

Ankara Turkey
1991

Certifications

• Internal Medicine
• Internal Medicine- Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism

Specialty Interests

Cushing syndrome, acromegaly, pheochromocytoma, prolactinoma, primary aldosteronism, pituitary disorders, adrenal tumor, adrenocortical carcinoma, MEN syndromes, adrenal disorders

Awards & Honors

• Best Doctors in America, 2007-2008 

Memberships

• Pituitary Society
• Endocrine Society
• American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
• American Medical Association

Treatment & Services

• Radioactive Iodine Treatment
• Thyroid Aspiration
• Thyroid Ultrasound

Specialty in Diseases and Conditions

• Acromegaly
• Addison’s Disease
• Adrenal disorders
• Adrenal insufficiency
• Adrenal Insufficiency and Addison’s Disease
• Adrenal Tumors
• Adrenocortical Carcinoma
• Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD)
• Amenorrhea
• Androgen Deficiency (Low Testosterone)
• Androgen Excess
• Calcium Disorders
• Carcinoid Syndrome
• Conn's Syndrome
• Cushing's Syndrome
• Empty sella
• Erectile Dysfunction
• Familial Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia
• Fasting hypoglycemia
• Flushing Syndromes
• Galactorrhea
• Goiter
• Growth hormone deficiency
• Growth hormone excess
• Gynecomastia
• Hirsutism
• Hyperaldosteronism
• Hyperandrogenism
• Hyperprolactinemia
• Hypertension - High Blood Pressure
• Hyperthyroidism
• Hypocalcemia
• Hypoglycemia
• Hypogonadism
• Hypoparathyroidism
• Hypophysitis
• Hypopituitarism
• Hypothyroidism
• Mastocytosis
• Menopause, Male
• Menstrual Disorders
• Paget's Disease
• Panhypopituitarism
• Parathyroid Cancer
• Parathyroid Disease and Calcium Disorders
• Pheochromocytoma
• Pituitary Cysts
• Pituitary Disorders
• Pituitary stalk lesions
• Pituitary Tumors
• Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
• Primary Hyperaldosteronism
• Primary Hyperparathyroidism
• Prolactin Excess States
• Prolactinoma
• Thyroid and pregnancy
• Thyroid Cancer
• Thyroid Disease
• Thyroid Nodule