Adrenal Cancer Treatment

But that’s not all. Besides treating the most adrenal cancers in the state, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University also has an unparalleled genitourinary oncology research program. We offer all the latest adrenal cancer treatment options, including investigational treatments you can’t get at other cancer centers, so you can feel confident in your care plan.

The genitourinary cancer experts at Winship use the latest technology and advanced testing to analyze your adrenal cancer at every level. Every patient we see with adrenal cancer is reviewed by our tumor board, where a team of physicians — including surgeons, pathologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists and more —meets to determine the best course of treatment for your cancer. This multidisciplinary approach enables your care team to develop a coordinated plan to treat your cancer as aggressively as possible while keeping side effects to a minimum.

Once your personalized adrenal cancer treatment plan is created, your team will discuss it with you, and treatment at Winship will be scheduled as soon as possible. We will even work with you and your local doctors in the event you decide to stay closer to home for treatment. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that you get your cancer treated the way it needs to be, wherever that is.

As Georgia’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winship’s researchers are pioneers in genitourinary oncology, including adrenal cancer treatment, and lead dozens of clinical trials each year. In fact, many of the drugs used to treat cancer today came out of clinical trials performed at Winship, which means our patients were some of the first to benefit. We make every effort to match as many patients as possible to ongoing research.

At Winship, we offer the most comprehensive array of adrenal cancer treatment options in Georgia, and the expertise to know which treatments work best for your individual adrenal cancer. Based on your unique cancer, your treatment plan may include:

Surgery

Most cases of adrenal cancer are treated with surgery to remove the tumor and any affected lymph nodes. Adrenal gland tumor surgery is complex given the location of the adrenal glands deep within the abdomen as well as the risk of further spreading the cancer during the procedure if not performed with skill and precision. At Winship, we have a team of urologists who are solely dedicated to the surgical treatment of genitourinary cancers, meaning they are experts in adrenal cancer, in addition to endocrine surgeons and surgical oncologists. When it comes to cancer surgery, you want the most experienced physicians taking care of you, and Winship’s urologists perform more adrenal cancer surgery per year than at any other cancer center in Georgia.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells. It is most commonly used in adrenal cancer treatment after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells, when needed. It also may be used in certain areas of the body where adrenal cancer has spread, such as the bones, to reduce pain or symptoms.

Chemotherapy

This adrenal cancer treatment involves the use of medication taken orally or injected to attack cancer cells throughout the body. It’s often used in the treatment of advanced adrenal cancers and is typically prescribed in a combination of three medications to increase efficacy.

Targeted Therapy

This type of drug therapy is different from chemotherapy in that it targets a cancer’s specific gene mutations, selectively identifying and attacking cancer cells while producing fewer side effects. Winship is currently collaborating on a large-scale clinical trial that monitors patients’ response to targeted therapy and, depending on how their genomic profile changes during the course of treatment, we can match patients whose cancer has mutated with additional therapies.

Hormone Therapy

This treatment is used in addition to other therapies to help stop adrenal cancer from returning, but also to counteract the excess hormones being produced by an adrenal gland tumor.

Adrenal cancer is unique because it leads to the overproduction of certain hormones, resulting in a spectrum of problematic symptoms, from high blood pressure to mood changes. At Winship, we strive to deliver the most effective treatment while also minimizing side effects. But coping with adrenal cancer and the side effects of adrenal cancer treatment can be challenging. That’s why we want you to know that we’ll be with you every step of the way.

We have a supportive oncology team of specialists on staff to help you with the physical, psychological and emotional aspects of living with cancer, including symptom management and counseling. This team — with the help of counselors, nurse navigators, dietitians, social service professionals and others — will be here to support you during your experience and beyond.