Overview of
The Arie Ringelstein
Cancer Research Program
Because of our Generous Supporters, ICAN patients involved in
The Arie Ringelstein Cancer Research Program
have access to the following information services:
- A review and analysis of the patient's pathology report relating to TNM staging ("Tumor Node Metastasis"); review of the patient's medical history, diet, lifestyle and risk factors, current condition as well as any comorbid factors; and complete review of symptoms prior to presentation.
- Referrals, at the patient contact's request, to medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiologists, interventional radiologists, anesthesiologists, and additional specialists relevant to the patient's ongoing care.
- Referrals to support groups that may be of assistance in handling the emotional impact that cancer has on the patient and the patient's family.
- Referrals to cancer-specific organizations that may be of assistance in addressing insurance issues or employment termination issues (because of diagnosis or disclosure of metastatic disease).
- Review of the nature/amelioration of specific side effects from chemotherapy (such as nausea and neuropathy) as well as from other treatment modalities.
- Discussion of the interaction of diet and cancer chemotherapy drugs based on recent studies.
- Delineation of the symptoms about which the patient should alert his/her oncologist.
- Discussion of relevant imaging technology.
- Discussion of pain management issues and treatment options that can be addressed with the patient's medical team.
- Explanation of the recommendations given or not given by the patient's physicians; assistance in answering the patient's questions which remain either after or between appointments with the medical team.
- Review of the relevant radiotherapy/interventional radiology options which the patient contact, in turn, may discuss with his/her medical team.
- Discussion of the relevance of the patient's specific immunohistochemistry and cytogenetic results to available clinical trials so that the patient may explore all options with his/her medical team.
- Analysis of relevant cancer clinical trials options as well as the nature and purpose of clinical trials using Remission Coach®.
- Review of relevant cancer-specific drugs in the anticancer pipeline.
- Review of all relevant and complementary and alternative medicine ("CAM") avenues.
- Review of the merits of filing a "Single Patient IND for Compassionate or Emergency Use" for a specific experimental cancer drug, if relevant to the patient's situation.
- Exploration of options that might reduce travel costs for the patient contact, such as Corporate Angels Network, as well as ICAN supporters who have volunteered to host a clinical trials patient in a particular city.
TESTIMONIAL OF ICAN PATIENT SERVICES
"Once we were hit with the bad news, I was totally overwhelmed and didn't know how to think straight. I just didn't know how to absorb all of the information. We heard about and connected to ICAN and Marcia Horn through friends. The greatest help was that Marcia gave us guidelines. First she provided us research for stomach cancer, told us everything about the disease, and prepared for us a whole list of questions that we could ask the oncologist who was starting the 9 weeks of chemotherapy and also the surgeon who recommended surgery.
What kind of medications did they suggest?
Over what period of time would treatment occur?
What was the whole process after treatment?
Like a project manager, I would get all the results from the tests and blood work and send them to Marcia at ICAN. After every treatment (for example, one day IV and the rest of the week on pills), we would ask her what her opinion was of the test results. Marcia helped me understand everything throughout that process. Little by little we started to get more involved into the details and understand them. Marcia followed along with us and guided us even after the surgery, researching the pathological results.
Marcia Horn and ICAN were active the entire time, which was very helpful and supportive. The oncologist became accustomed with what type of information we would ask for, which we would send to ICAN for comparison to other cases and to research the drugs that were suggested, to give us an idea of what they were. It was as if we were coming from another world, we didn't know about those things otherwise.
Marcia was really a great help to me personally and emotionally. Because Marcia had lost her best friend to cancer, she knew how to be most supportive and knowledgeable. Someone who has gone through the learning path themselves is best to lead someone else. All the support that ICAN can get will assist other people who have to battle the disease, so that they too can be guided through the war of survival." – Rivka Ringelstein (Arie's wife)
The Arie Ringelstein Cancer Research Program
is a vital part of ICAN's Cancer Patient Advocacy and Clinical Trials Program Advocacy Services.
For more information about this special program, please click on.....
ICAN is currently working on The Arie Ringelstein Cancer Research Program. We are working to put together a Family and Friends Advisory Council for the The Arie Ringelstein Cancer Research Program. If interested, please email us at Arie.Ringelstein.Program@askican.org.
If you would like to become involved as a donor and supporter or a member of our Cancer Research Literature team as a Research Team Leader (medical school students, physicians, nurses, and post-docs only please), you may reach us at Arie.Ringelstein.Program@askican.org.
Federal Tax I.D.: EIN 86-0818253