Adrenal Cancer (Adrenocortical Carcinoma), from the CureRays guide library.

Adrenal cancer is a rare tumor of the small hormone-making glands above the kidneys; surgery is the main cure, and radiation and medicine help control it and ease symptoms.

What it is.

Adrenal cancer, most often a type called adrenocortical carcinoma, is a rare cancer that begins in one of the two small adrenal glands — the triangle-shaped glands that sit on top of each kidney. These glands are tiny but powerful: they make hormones that control blood pressure, the body's salt and water balance, blood sugar, and the stress response. Most growths found in the adrenal gland are harmless (called adenomas), and adrenal cancer is uncommon. Some adrenal cancers are 'functioning,' meaning they pump out extra hormones that cause symptoms such as weight gain, high blood pressure, easy bruising, or changes in body hair and the menstrual cycle. Others are 'non-functioning' and are often found only when they grow large enough to press on nearby organs or are spotted by chance on a scan. Because the adrenal glands are deep in the back of the abdomen near the kidney, liver, and major blood vessels, treatment is carefully planned by a specialized team. Surgery is the foundation of cure, with medicine and radiation playing important supporting roles.

How radiation treats it.

Radiation uses focused high-energy x-rays to damage the DNA inside tumor cells so they can no longer grow and divide. The adrenal gland sits in a crowded part of the body, close to the kidney, liver, bowel, and spine, so modern image-guided radiation is planned carefully to concentrate the dose on the tumor while protecting these sensitive neighbors. In adrenal cancer, radiation is most often used after surgery to lower the risk of return in the same area, or to control and relieve tumors that have spread. Treatments are painless and brief, given over a small number of sessions. Side effects depend on the area treated and are usually temporary, such as fatigue, mild nausea, or local skin irritation. Radiation works best here as a precise, supportive tool alongside surgery and medicine rather than as a stand-alone cure.

The ways we can treat it.

Adjuvant (post-surgery) radiation. Targeted radiation to the tumor bed after surgery can reduce the chance of the cancer coming back in the same area, especially when margins were close or the tumor was high-risk.

Palliative radiation. Precise radiation aimed at painful or troublesome deposits — for example in bone — to relieve symptoms and improve comfort.

Stereotactic body radiation (SBRT). Highly focused, high-dose radiation in a few sessions can control a limited number of metastatic spots while sparing nearby organs like the kidney, liver, and bowel.

Questions we hear often.

Are most adrenal tumors cancer? No. The great majority of growths found on the adrenal gland are benign (non-cancerous) adenomas, often discovered by chance on a scan. Adrenal cancer is rare, and your doctor uses imaging, hormone tests, and sometimes the tumor's size to tell them apart.

Why do I need hormone tests? Some adrenal cancers make extra hormones that cause symptoms like high blood pressure, weight gain, or easy bruising. Measuring these hormones helps your team understand the tumor, plan safe surgery, and follow your progress afterward.

Will I need radiation? Not everyone does. Surgery is the main treatment when the cancer is confined. Radiation is added in higher-risk cases to lower the chance of return, or to control and relieve tumors that have spread. Your team will tell you whether it fits your situation.

This guide is informational only. It is not medical advice — please confirm anything here with your care team.