I  was 27 years old when diagnosed with Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma (ACC).  I was cancer free until it appeared almost four years later. I have written to the American Cancer Society asking about research and funding.  They thanked me for writing and replied that they do not contribute to adrenal cancer.  Why should they care for a rare cancer afflicting only 1 in 2 million?  Maybe I'm naive about there ever being a cure.  If this cancer afflicted the daughter of a pharmaceutical founder or an FDA commissioner would available treatments be different? 

Currently there is no proven cure  or protocol for the treatment of ACC.

This site is about a peculiar and rare cancer of the adrenal gland.  Read my cancer experience and about ACC. Help write letters to make an impact on legislation or contribute to the ACC research fund.  There is also a links page.
 

MAKE AN IMPACT ON LEGISLATION 

Write your elected officials and help affect public policy on cancer prevention and research.  Check back often for new issues and topics.

On November 6, 2002 President Bush signed the Rare Diseases Act of 2002, H.R. 4013, and the Rare Diseases Orphan Product Development Act of 2002, H.R. 4014.

Now public law, H.R. 4013 and H.R. 4014 AUTHORIZE increased funding for the Office of Rare Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, and the Orphan Product Research Grant program administered by the Office of Orphan Product Development at the Food and Drug Administration, respectively. But, AUTHORIZING a boost in funds doesn't translate into money in the bank.

Let's make sure that the money AUTHORIZED in H.R. 4013 and H.R. 4014 become reality. That means writing letters and sending e-mails to your Senators and Representatives asking for their commitment. 
Take action now by using a form letter!  click here

Help support the Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma Research Fund at the TGEN institute in Phoenix, Arizona.

This fund has been established by Troy Richards  for adrenocortical carcinoma site specific research.  This fund supports the research of Dr. Demeure and Dr. Von Hoff whowill lead a team of investigators that will use the newest technologies to identify genetic malfunctions and design new diagnostic tools for early detection. TGen has the supercomputing capabilities, world experts in cancer research and drug development, and state-of-the-art technology to design new drugs and bring them to the patient bedside. Your contributions can help fund this important research. 

Again, If you are diagnosed with ACC, please consider helping us help others by allowing TGen to analyze your tumor. There is no cost to you or to your physician or hospital. All cost are underwritten by the ATAC Fund. Soon there will be downloadable an IRB approved consent form for Tumor Donation.

I am thankful to everyone in my life.  I am blessed to have the family and friends that stand beside me.  Thank you for all your support, love and prayers.  Thank you Dick Beverlin and all who are part of the ACC support group.  Thank you to the very skillful and knowledgeable physicians along with their nurses and assistants, that I have been blessed to have met.  Thank you to all the doctors and scientists who spend their entire lives investigating cancer.  I pray that one day there will be a cure.  Thank you Dr. Westfall, my web design professor, for your continued support and ideas.    Thank you, Dr. Rhodes, Dr. Weinberg, Dr. Patel, Dr. Kudelka, Dr. Bible, Dr. Que, and Dr. Quinn.  Each day I continue to meet those who are new to this world of cancer through the internet.

Today, I am at peace in my life.  Each day I ask for God's blessing and mercy and I feel each day he grants these to me.  I am thankful for HIS guiding light along our journey we call life.   May your will be done.  Thanks be to God.