Adrenal Cancer Specialist
Adrenal cancer is a rare but dangerous form of cancer that affects your adrenal glands. If you have a family history of adrenal cancer and develop symptoms, contact the expert urologists at Urology of Greater Atlanta.
Our team provides state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment to help get rid of the tumor and restore your health. Call one of our locations throughout Georgia or schedule a consultation online today.
What Is Adrenal Cancer?
Adrenal cancer, also called adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), is a rare type of cancer that starts in the adrenal glands. Your adrenal glands are located on top of your kidneys. They produce the hormones that provide instructions to nearly every organ in your body. When it’s caught early, the disease is usually treatable.
Your risk of developing adrenal cancer increases if you have a personal or family history of the disease. Your risk of adrenal cancer is higher if you have an inherited condition such as Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, Carney complex, Lynch syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, or multiple endocrine neoplasia.
What Are the Warning Signs of Adrenal Cancer?
Some of the warning signs that are signs or symptoms of adrenal cancer include:
- Weight gain
- Muscle weakness
- Dark pink or purple stretch marks
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal bloating
- Back pain
- Fever
- Lost appetite
- Unintentional weight loss
Adrenal cancer can also cause hormonal changes that trigger symptoms, such as facial hair growth, thinning hair, and irregular periods in women. Men might develop gynecomastia or testicle shrinkage.
How Do You Diagnose Adrenal Cancer?
Adrenal cancer is typically diagnosed with a combination of imaging techniques and laboratory tests. Imaging techniques, such as computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET), can help detect tumors in the adrenal glands.
Doctors may also order blood tests to measure levels of hormones or tumor markers that can be elevated if an individual has adrenal cancer. Finally, doctors may perform a biopsy in which tissue from the adrenal gland is taken and examined under a microscope for signs of cancer.
Once a diagnosis is made, additional tests are done to determine what type of cancer it is and how far it has spread throughout the body. With this information, doctors can create an effective treatment plan for
If you have an elevated risk of adrenal cancer and are experiencing symptoms, book a visit with our urologists today! The doctors at Urology of Greater Atlanta provide comprehensive testing, including blood tests and urinalysis.
Your urologist might also recommend removing a suspect adrenal gland and running lab tests to check for abnormal cells or other signs of cancer.
How Do You Treat Adrenal Cancer?
The team at Urology of Greater Atlanta offers a variety of treatments for adrenal cancer, depending on the severity of your condition and your overall health needs.
Your treatment plan could include medication, radiation, or chemotherapy. In some cases, an adrenalectomy may be needed to remove the tumor or your adrenal glands.
Call Urology of Greater Atlanta or request an appointment online if you have any concerns about adrenal cancer. We have multiple locations in Georgia for your convenience.
Our urologist team operates out of several offices and a surgical center to serve the needs of all Northern Georgia residents.