Standing with Joe: Fighting Stage 4 ACC & Funding the Cure
Anyone who knows Joe Bowolick, a US Marine Corps Veteran, knows he is a fighter who meets every challenge head-on. Since November 2022, Joe has been in the fight of his life against Stage 4 Adrenocortical Carcinoma (ACC)—an ultra-rare, aggressive cancer affecting only about one in a million people.
Because ACC is so uncommon, standard clinical pathways are extremely limited. What began as an incidental finding during an ER visit for severe kidney pain quickly escalated into complex surgeries, harsh treatment regimens, and life-threatening complications.
The Journey & The Turning Point
- Early 2023: Following the removal of a 6.5 cm adrenal tumor, Joe began oral chemotherapy (Mitotane). The dosage rapidly caused liver failure, requiring treatment to pause under active surveillance.
- Early 2025: Routine scans revealed recurrence in Joe's diaphragm, liver, and lungs. He resumed Mitotane alongside an aggressive IV chemotherapy regimen (EDP).
- Summer 2025: After his second round of chemotherapy, Joe suffered acute kidney failure and severe neutropenia, spending a week in hospital isolation. Scans in July 2025 revealed rapid progression, leading local oncology to advise preparing for end-of-life care within 6 to 12 months.
- Fall 2025 (Finding Hope at the NIH): Refusing to accept that timeline, Joe’s family connected directly with leading ACC specialist Dr. Jaydira Del Rivero and surgical oncologist Dr. Jonathan Hernandez at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). On September 29, 2025, Joe underwent a critical en bloc resection at the NIH, spending nearly a month inpatient recovering from the extensive surgery.
Joe continues to fight with extraordinary resolve. While navigating daily insulin management and carefully monitored Mitotane therapy, June 2026 scans showed renewed recurrence in his liver alongside new lung nodules. Joe and his medical teams at the Connecticut VA Hospital and NIH continue to press forward.
Why We Are Giving Back: The Adrenal Cure Collective
Joe’s journey has made one truth undeniable: patients facing rare cancers cannot wait for traditional, slow research pipelines. Breakthroughs happen because dedicated researchers, clinicians, and patient advocates refuse to accept the status quo.
When local options ran out, it was the pioneering work of specialists like Dr. Del Rivero at the NIH that gave Joe more time, renewed hope, and an aggressive path forward.
That is why this fundraiser is dedicated to The Adrenal Cure Collective—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to improving treatments, funding vital clinical research, and developing targeted therapies alongside leaders in the field.
How You Can Help
Every dollar raised goes toward closing the gap in ACC research and delivering better options to patients and families who need them today:
- Donate Directly to Research: Your contribution funds groundbreaking studies, clinical trials, and novel therapies aimed at turning a "one-in-a-million" diagnosis into a treatable, curable condition.
- Amplify the Mission: Share this fundraiser and Joe’s story across your social channels and networks to bring critical visibility to ACC and the work being done at adrenalcurecollective.org.
- Stand in Solidarity: Prayers, positive thoughts of encouragement and strength for Joe and all the warriors, families, and researchers fighting this disease fuel their resolve every single day.
With gratitude, we THANK YOU for honoring Joe’s fight by investing in a future where no one has to hear that there are no options left.
