Adrenal cancer is rare, difficult to detect and is often diagnosed in the later stages when it has metastasized. “That’s why it’s so important to have centers of excellence so patients have access to providers who are experts in treating this disease,” says Barbra Miller, MD, co-director of the James Multidisciplinary Adrenal Clinic, a world leader in treating this type of cancer. The body’s two adrenal glands sit above the kidneys. They are important organs as they produce several different hormones that regulate blood pressure and metabolism “and help other organs work successfully,” Miller said, adding that in most cases only one of the two adrenal glands is cancerous. For patients with metastatic adrenal cancer, the first treatment option is chemotherapy “so we can determine how it responds and how quickly it is growing and determine whether the resection (an adrenalectomy that removes the entire adrenal gland) is advantageous.” An adrenalectomy is a delicate procedure. “The tumor is very fragile and can grow through the capsule of the tumor into the surrounding organs and we don’t want to spread those cells [during surgery],” Miller said. “Once the surgery is completed, we look at the pathology to determine if other treatment is warranted.” A person can function quite well with one adrenal gland, Miller said. Because adrenal cancer is so rare, about 200 cases a year, according to the American Cancer Society, it is hard to attract funding for research. “We are constantly searching for funding, and Pelotonia is key to our program’s success in continuing to research this disease.”