Actress Émilie Dequenne, who announced she was in remission from adrenocortical carcinoma last April, revealed that she was forced to give up some of her obligations due to her health. What is this rare form of cancer?
- Actress Émilie Dequenne was diagnosed with a rare cancer called adrenocortical carcinoma in the summer of 2023.
- After announcing that she was in remission last April, she has just indicated that she has to take a step back for health reasons.
- Corticosurenaloma develops in the adrenal gland. It is estimated that there are 1 to 2 new cases per million inhabitants each year.
Last April, Émilie Dequenne had announced that she was in complete remission from a rare cancer called adrenocortical carcinoma. But the news about the 42-year-old Belgian actress is more worrying today.
In a message posted on his Instagram account On August 27, the actress, who rose to fame in Rosetta in 1999, confided that she had to reduce her activities again for health reasons.Hello everyone! Unfortunately, I am forced to focus on my health again. For this reason, I will not be able to honor some of my upcoming obligations… I will obviously keep you informed, and I hope to see you soon! Thank you again a thousand times for all your messages filled with love, I’LL BE BACK.
An adrenal gland cancer that often affects women
Last summer, Émilie Dequenne began to experience severe stomach pain and extreme fatigue. After several days of suffering, the artist went to the emergency room. That’s when doctors discovered that she had an adrenocortical carcinoma.
This cancer, which develops in the adrenal gland, is very rare. It is estimated that there are 1 to 2 new cases per million inhabitants each year. This malignant tumor, also called adrenocortical carcinoma, is mainly observed in adults between 40 and 50 years old and most often in women. However, health professionals also note a peak in incidence in children under 15 years old.
“In the vast majority of patients, adrenocortical carcinoma affects a person without any cause or contributing factor being able to be identified. In exceptional cases, adrenocortical carcinoma is associated with one of the following rare hereditary diseases: Li-Faumeni syndrome, Wiede-mann-Beckwith syndrome, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1), Gardner syndrome”indicates the Gustave Roussy centerspecializing in this type of cancer.
Last June, in the pages of Parisianthe actress recalled the diagnosis of her illness: “I saw two different doctors, who thought it was irritable bowel syndrome or constipation. A little later, I stopped reading because I was very tired. The producer Diana Elbaum saved my life: thanks to her, I was taken to a private hospital in Brussels as an emergency, where they did a blood test and a scan. Very quickly, I was operated on and I started my first chemotherapy. I was incredibly lucky.”she explained.
Malignant adrenocortical carcinoma: what are the symptoms?
Symptoms in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma vary depending on whether or not the tumor secretes hormones and the nature of these hormones. When it causes excess cortisol, it leads to Cushing’s syndrome. This results in:
- a face that rounds and turns red;
- fat deposits at the nape of the neck;
- thin and fragile skin;
- stretch marks on the abdomen, thighs and arms;
- bruising due to vascular fragility;
- muscle weakness, osteoporosis, linked to protein loss;
- sleep disturbances, depressive tendencies, concentration problems or memory loss;
- diabetes and high blood pressure.
Excess aldosterone can cause:
- high blood pressure;
- muscle cramps.
“Sometimes, adrenocortical tumors secrete an excess of androgens, responsible for virilization in women, the main symptoms being acne, hoarseness of the voice, hirsutism and menstrual disorders. In men, hypersecretion of estrogens can lead to gynecomastia (enlarged breasts) and sexual fatigue.”adds the Gustave Roussy center.
In addition, the tumor can sometimes secrete several of these hormones. The patient then presents a mixture of the symptoms mentioned. Patients are also likely to have symptoms related to the presence of the tumor itself. These include the perception of a mass, abdominal or lumbar pain or, more rarely, fever or weight loss.
Adrenocortical carcinoma is an aggressive disease. There are risks of relapses, locoregional spread or distant metastases (liver, lungs, bones, etc.).