Finding out your child has an adrenocortical carcinoma can leave you with a lot of questions. From explaining it to your child to figuring out what's next, at UVA Health Children's, we'll help you with compassion and expertise. We'll get the answers you need to make the right choices and care for your child.
Treating Adrenocortical Carcinomas at UVA Health Children's
Your child's doctor may do some tests, like blood tests or imaging, to check your child's adrenocortical carcinoma. Often, a child with adrenal cancer may only have a few or no symptoms.
Once your doctor has the test results, they'll work with you to create a personalized treatment plan for your child.
Adrenocortical Carcinoma Treatment Options
Your child's treatment plan depends on their overall health and how advanced the tumor is. Most care plans include one or more of these:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation
- Surgery
Your child may need hormone therapy as well. This helps manage symptoms caused by their adrenal tumor.
Child-Friendly Imaging
Our children's radiology team works hard to reduce your child's fears about imaging. They can explain what they're doing in a child-friendly way. And, we have access to the latest technologies. That means less frustration and clear images for your child's care.
Adrenocortical Carcinoma FAQs
What caused my child to have an adrenocortical carcinoma?
We don't know why some kids get adrenocortical carcinomas. Sometimes, it can be due to a genetic defect. If your child is diagnosed with this rare cancer, we can test them in our genetics lab to see if theirs is due to genetics. If it is, we'll offer testing to the rest of your family.
What are the symptoms of adrenocortical carcinoma?
Unfortunately, many times these tumors don't cause any symptoms. That can make them hard to detect. Because of their location though, sometimes they lead to hormone overproduction. This causes:
- Acne
- Deepening voice
- Body hair
It can also cause those born female to not menstruate or develop breasts. And it can cause those born male to go through puberty early.
Can adrenocortical carcinoma be cured?
In many instances, yes. This is especially true if the entire tumor can be surgically removed.
We will still continue to follow-up with your child through our childhood cancer survivorship clinic.
When Your Child Needs Surgery
It's scary to hear that your child needs surgery. We work hard to give your child the compassion, experience, and expertise they need in this challenging time. We treat over 2,500 children a year, including those with complex medical issues.
Comprehensive Cancer Care
UVA Health is the first National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in Virginia. This honor is only given to care centers that stay ahead of the curve in cancer research. It also speaks to the high level of care we offer for cancer patients.
Throughout treatment, we'll make sure to nurture your child's body, mind, and emotional well-being. Your care team may include:
- Social Workers
- Nutritionists
- Physical Therapists
- Palliative Care Experts
- Child Life Specialists
- Hospital Education Instructors
As a top medical center, UVA Health Children's participates in clinical trials. This allows us to offer the newest treatment available to every patient.