Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC)

If you’re affected by adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), you may have many questions about how it is diagnosed, treatment options, side effects and how to stay well. You can find trustworthy information about all aspects of your experience below.

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What is adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC)?

Learn what ACC is, what causes it, and who gets it.

Symptoms

Learn about the common symptoms of ACC and when to see your doctor.

Getting diagnosed

Find out about the tests for ACC, how it is diagnosed and staged, and who will provide your care.

Treating ACC

Learn about the main treatment options for ACC, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Managing side effects

Find out about the possible impacts of ACC and their treatment, and how to manage these.

Life after treatment

Learn about follow-up care, what happens if the cancer returns, and how to look after your physical and mental health.

Questions for your doctorAsking your doctor questions will help you make informed decisions. Here's a list of questions you may want to ask.

How far has the cancer spread? What stage of cancer do I have?
Have you treated this type of cancer before? If so, how many times? Is there another doctor who has more experience treating this type of cancer?
What treatment do you recommend and why?
What are the possible risks and side effects of my treatment? How will these be managed?
How long will treatment take? Will I have to stay in hospital?
Is this treatment covered by Medicare/private insurance? Will there be extra expenses?
Will I have a lot of pain with the treatment? What will be done about this?
Will my face or neck have significant scarring or will I look different? What can be done to minimise this?
What kind of rehabilitation will be available to me afterwards?
Are there any complementary therapies that might help me?

If you are thinking of taking part in a clinical trial, here are some questions you could ask:

What are the possible benefits and risks to me?
What is being tested and why?
How many people will be involved in this trial?

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