Adrenal Cancer

[Lorna]

Hi,
My husband was diagnosed with Cushing's syndrome in late May and when he went to the Enrocrinologist it was found he had adrenal carcinoma. A week later he had the left adrenal gland and a 15cm tumor removed and the surgeons felt they had "got it all". However the biopsy showed some cells in the surrounding fat tissue. He is currently undergoing Radiation therapy - 27 sessions over 6 weeks.He will lose half the kidney. Xrays showed the lungs clear.

Our radiologist is considering Mitotane as a follow up but our Oncologist thinks that it is best to monitor carefully and surgically remove tumors as they arise.

As this is such a rare cancer and the first one to be treated in our hospital in Australia ( 3 others were found too late!!) we would like as much information as possible for the next decision we have to make.

Is it usual to re-stage with scans after radiology? What is used PET scans, CAT scans or RMI ?

Any positive information would be helpful.

Regards

Lorna

[UroDoc]

Sorry to hear about your husbands diagnosis. It sounds like he has adrenocortical carcinoma. If that is correct the prognosis,sadly, is poor with the primary treatment being surgery. Radiation unfortunately has not been very effective, but definitely worth trying. Traditional chemotherapy does not work. Mitotane causes a 34% tumor response and is usually used in metastatic disease. Unfortunately despite the tumor response rate using Mitotane has not prolonged survival time and in general the medication is given until toxicity occurs, so there are some quality of life issues to discuss with your doctors.The overall 5 year survival reported in the literature for adrenocortical carcinoma is approximately 35%. Hopefully he will be in that 35%, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your husband. Good luck.

[UroDoc]

By the way the info I gave you in the other post is for an adrenocortical carcinoma make sure that is what your husband has before applying the info posted to his case, good luck

[irkimmie]

Hi my name is Kim and i have been diagnosed with adrenal cortical carcinoma and also wish your husband and family well.
I had surgery in June and had my spleen, kidney, 65% of my pancreas and part of my abdominal wall removed. It was a rough sugery but i am feeling much better and back to work already. I am not currently undergoing treatment as my oncologists made the decision that the risks of mitotane outway the benefits at this time.
I hope his diagnosis is different than mine. I will have tests every three months to see if the cancer has returned and the only way to keep it under control is to keep removing it at this point so we are all hoping i am one of the rare cases that it does not return to.
I have only been the 2nd case my doctor has seen since it is so rare so there is not really a whole lot known about it.
I am hoping the surgery bought me a few more years to be with my family and little granddaughter especially.
I hope you and your husband and family can keep your spirits up during this time although believe me I know it is hard.
Just to let you know there is someelse here that knows what you are going through. Not sure if it helps much.
I have also been looking for positive info on my diagnosis.
Good luck to you.
Kim

[UroDoc]

Good luck, I hope you are one of the survivors. Thanks for taking your time to help others