Being told you have adrenal cancer can be scary, and you may have many questions. But you have people on your health care team to help.
Coping with fear
It's normal to feel afraid. Learning about your cancer and about your treatment choices can help you feel less afraid. This also helps you work with your health care team and make the best choices for your treatment. You might also want to ask to speak with a counselor or therapist.
Working with your health care team
Your health care team will likely include:
- Medical oncologist. This is a doctor with special training to treat cancer with medicines, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.
- Endocrinologist. This is a doctor who treats diseases in glands that make hormones, including the adrenal glands.
- Surgeon. This is a doctor who treats diseases like cancer by doing surgery to take out the tumor or the organ it's in.
- Radiation oncologist. This is a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with radiation therapy.
These doctors will answer any questions you may have. They'll help you through each of the steps you'll take before, during, and after treatment. Your team will let you know what tests you need and the results of those tests. They'll guide you in making treatment decisions. They will help prepare you and your loved ones for what's ahead.
Learning about treatment choices
To decide the best course of treatment for you, your health care team needs to know as much as they can about your cancer. This may include getting blood and urine tests, imaging scans, and working with more than one doctor. And you may decide that you want to get a second opinion to help you choose a treatment.
Treatment often starts a few weeks to months after diagnosis. This gives you time to get the tests needed so your doctors know the details about the cancer. You also have time to talk with your doctors about your treatment choices, decide which treatment is best for you, and prepare yourself and your loved ones.
Getting support
Coping with cancer can be very stressful. Talk with your health care team about seeing a counselor or therapist. They can refer you to someone who can help. You might also want to visit a support group to talk with other people coping with cancer. Ask your health care team about local or online support groups.
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