Atlanta is a nationally significant cancer care destination, anchored by the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University — Georgia’s only NCI-designated cancer center — and a network of large community oncology practices and hospital-based cancer programs that collectively treat tens of thousands of new cancer patients annually across the metro area. Georgia’s cancer burden reflects national patterns with high rates of colorectal, lung, breast, and prostate cancer, while the state’s significant health disparities by race and income make equitable cancer care access a particularly important public health challenge that Atlanta’s major institutions actively address. Northside Hospital Cancer Institute is recognized as one of the largest and most respected cancer networks in the Southeast, and Grady Health’s cancer program — operated in collaboration with Emory and Morehouse — serves Atlanta’s safety-net population with academic medical center-level oncology expertise. Oncologists complete internal medicine or pediatrics residency and a three-year hematology/oncology fellowship after medical school, with additional subspecialty fellowship training available in specific cancer types.
When choosing an oncologist in Atlanta, ask specifically about their volume of experience with your cancer type, since outcomes in cancer care are meaningfully associated with physician and institutional experience in treating specific tumors. Ask about the oncologist’s involvement in tumor board reviews, where multidisciplinary teams of oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, pathologists, and radiologists review cases together and agree on treatment recommendations. For many cancers, National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline adherence is a meaningful quality indicator. Red flags include oncologists who do not encourage second opinions before beginning treatment for aggressive cancers, those who do not discuss clinical trial options when a clinical trial may be appropriate for your cancer type, and programs that do not have multidisciplinary tumor board review for your cancer type.
Top Oncologist Companies in Atlanta
1. Georgia Cancer Specialists (GCS)
Address: 1100 Johnson Ferry Rd NE, Suite 600, Atlanta, GA 30342
Phone: (404) 256-4777
Website: https://www.gacancer.com
Services:
- Medical oncology and hematology
- Chemotherapy and targeted therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Clinical trials
- Nutritional counseling
- Pain management
- Wellness counseling
- Home health coordination
About: Georgia Cancer Specialists is a national leader in advanced cancer treatment and research, with 50 physicians providing oncology and hematology care across 26 Northside Hospital Cancer Institute locations throughout metro Atlanta, north, and central Georgia. The practice was the first private oncology practice in Georgia to also provide a full range of patient support services including nutritional counseling, pain management, wellness counseling, and home health coordination alongside medical oncology treatment. Their affiliation with Northside Hospital Cancer Institute — one of the Southeast’s most respected cancer networks — provides access to clinical trials and collaborative tumor board review. Their 26-location network provides geographic access across a broad area of the Atlanta metro and surrounding Georgia communities.
2. Piedmont Cancer Institute
Address: 1800 Howell Mill Rd, Suite 800, Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: (404) 350-9853
Website: https://www.piedmontcancerinstitute.com
Service Area: Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Fayetteville, Locust Grove, Stockbridge
Services:
- Medical oncology
- Hematology
- Chemotherapy and infusion therapy
- Targeted therapy and immunotherapy
- Precision medicine
- Clinical trials
- Multidisciplinary cancer care
About: Piedmont Cancer Institute is the oncology and hematology arm of Piedmont Healthcare, operating multiple cancer centers across metro Atlanta and surrounding communities to make specialist cancer care broadly accessible. The Institute’s team of oncologists and hematologists combine expertise with innovation, leveraging advanced technologies, expanding precision therapies, and building personalized treatment relationships with patients. Their five metro Atlanta and suburban locations — Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Fayetteville, Locust Grove, and Stockbridge — extend cancer care access to residents across Fulton, Cobb, Fayette, Henry, and south metro counties. The Institute’s connection to Piedmont Healthcare’s hospital network supports seamless transitions between outpatient oncology and inpatient care when hospitalization is required.
3. Atlanta Oncology Associates
Founded: 1972
Website: https://www.atlantaoncology.com
Services:
- Cancer diagnosis and treatment
- Chemotherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Radiation therapy coordination
- Surgical oncology coordination
- Support services
About: Atlanta Oncology Associates has provided cancer diagnosis, treatment, and support to Atlanta patients since 1972, making it one of the most historically established oncology practices in the city with over 50 years of continuous operation. The practice’s long tenure in Atlanta reflects sustained clinical quality and patient trust across multiple generations of oncology practice in the region. Their combined medical, hormonal, and radiation therapy coordination capabilities allow them to coordinate multimodality cancer treatment within a single practice framework, reducing the complexity of managing care across multiple institutions. The practice serves Atlanta-area cancer patients across all major cancer types with an emphasis on personalized, supportive care throughout the treatment journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Should I seek cancer care at a large cancer center or a community oncology practice in Atlanta?
A: Both offer important advantages, and the right choice depends on your cancer type and treatment needs. NCI-designated cancer centers like Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute offer access to cutting-edge clinical trials, subspecialty oncologists who focus on specific cancer types, and multidisciplinary tumor boards with the highest level of specialist input. Large community cancer networks like Georgia Cancer Specialists or Piedmont Cancer Institute offer more convenient location access for ongoing chemotherapy infusions, established community oncologist relationships, and often shorter wait times for routine treatment. Many Atlanta cancer patients see a major cancer center for initial diagnosis and treatment planning and then transition chemotherapy infusions to a conveniently located community oncology practice for the treatment course.
Q: How do I get a second opinion on a cancer diagnosis or treatment plan in Atlanta?
A: Seeking a second opinion before beginning cancer treatment is medically appropriate and widely encouraged by oncologists. In Atlanta, second opinions can be obtained at Winship Cancer Institute at Emory, Northside Hospital Cancer Institute, or Grady Health’s cancer program. For certain rare or complex cancers, some patients seek second opinions at nationally recognized cancer centers such as MD Anderson, Mayo Clinic, or Memorial Sloan Kettering, which can sometimes be done remotely through consultation pathology and teleoncology services. Most insurance plans cover second opinion consultations. Do not allow urgency pressure to prevent you from seeking a second opinion for newly diagnosed cancer — for most solid tumors, taking two to three weeks to get a second opinion does not meaningfully affect outcomes.
Q: What cancer screening services are available in Atlanta?
A: Atlanta’s major health systems and cancer practices offer the full range of evidence-based cancer screening services including mammography for breast cancer, colonoscopy for colorectal cancer, low-dose CT for lung cancer in high-risk smokers, PSA testing for prostate cancer, Pap smear and HPV testing for cervical cancer, and skin cancer screening by dermatologists. Grady Health System and community health centers in Atlanta provide cancer screening services to uninsured and underinsured residents, and the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Program offers free screening to qualifying women. Several Atlanta health systems have invested in cancer screening equity programs specifically targeting underserved African American communities where cancer screening rates have historically been lower.
Conclusion
Cancer care in Atlanta ranges from community-based oncology practices providing convenient infusion therapy through internationally recognized academic cancer centers with clinical trial access and subspecialty expertise. Georgia Cancer Specialists provides the broadest geographic access through 26 Northside Hospital Cancer Institute locations with 50 physicians and comprehensive patient support services. Piedmont Cancer Institute offers multi-location community oncology with precision medicine and multidisciplinary care across five metro locations. Atlanta Oncology Associates brings over 50 years of continuous Atlanta cancer treatment experience with a full spectrum of therapy coordination. Contact any of these practices or your primary care physician for oncology referral or cancer screening.