Sylvia Adams, MD

As an oncologist, I have provided care to women and men who have breast cancer for more than a decade. My practice philosophy is to combine evidence-based medicine, innovative research, and compassionate care.

Going through breast cancer can be stressful and can leave one feeling vulnerable. I guide people through this time, helping them work through challenges and cheering their victories. I take the time to help people understand their treatment options and the biology of the illness, so they can actively participate in making decisions.

At Perlmutter Cancer Center, patients receive the care and expertise of a team of doctors, including medical oncologists like myself, breast surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, geneticists, and radiation oncologists. We work closely together and meet weekly to discuss every patient’s condition to ensure they receive the most individually-tailored care. Patients receive additional support from our nursing professionals and social workers. We commonly discuss issues that too often go unaddressed, such as how people’s diagnoses and treatment affect their emotional wellbeing, sexual function, and the lives of their loved ones.

In my research, I am heavily invested in improving cure rates. I lead trials that harness patients’ own immune systems to treat, and we hope, cure breast cancer. I am an internationally recognized expert in treating breast cancer and have been invited to join committees at the National Cancer Institute to oversee breast cancer immunotherapy trials, as well as to review oncology research proposals.

I am a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the breast committee of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, and I serve on steering committees for pharmaceutical breast cancer trials. Additionally, I often publish articles on breast cancer and immunotherapy, lecture at conferences, and collaborate with scientists across the globe. This allows me to stay up to date with the most recent research developments and share information about treatments and trials with my patients.