Topic: Advocacy

Why Cancer Advocacy is SO Crucial for Patients

Published by on December 9, 2020 1 Comment

A little background on cancer advocacy… Did you know that each month, there are over 1,000 new, peer-reviewed, validated studies published in the field of cancer care?   The biggest cancer conference in the world is currently the American Society of Clinical Oncologists’ annual conference (aka ASCO)… It is the ‘Royal Gala’ of the cancer world.  At this one conference alone, 5,600 new research papers on cancer were presented last year.  On top of that massive amount of information, there are an additional 250 cancer conferences worldwide each year – each of them presenting hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of studies. That’s at least 15,000 new studies released each year on cancer care, diagnosis and treatment. (And that’s using the most conservative estimate!) To break it down… ...
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Join our Facebook Group

Join our Cancer Advocacy and Education Facebook Group!

Published by on November 30, 2020 1 Comment

👉 Join our new Cancer Advocacy and Education Facebook group We can all agree: having cancer is really hard! When you get a diagnosis of cancer, everything – and nothing – changes.  I mean…life still goes on around you: you still need to pay the bills, weed the garden, make dinner, do the dishes and call your sister.  But inside, your life is forever changed. You will never again take life for granted.  You’re being forced to go on a mission you did not ask for, a journey you’d much prefer not to take. But here you are.  And while you might not be sure just what to do, you are sure that how you handle this next phase of your life – how you...
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Doctor

3 Genetic Tests Can Increase Your Life Expectancy by 80%!

Published by on November 18, 2020 | Share your thoughts

You’ve probably already heard about genetic tests for cancer. But did you know that when just one special type of genetic test is used in your cancer diagnosis your life expectancy increases by 30%? And did you know that when you add all 3 types of genetic tests to your diagnosis and treatment plan, your life expectancy increases by 80+% over standard care? Comprehensive Genetic Tests Are Key to Treatment Success With this leading-edge medical science, you and your oncologist can be certain that your diagnosis is accurate and that you’re getting the absolute best treatment for your cancer. Waste no time, leave nothing to chance. You should not feel like you’re in the dark about your cancer care! Demand certainty and don’t settle for...
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Cancer research

What’s New in Cancer Research?

Published by on November 5, 2020 1 Comment

New Studies and Articles in Cancer Research Welcome to our ongoing list of new studies and articles published on cancer research. Explore the archive below to see which ones are useful to you and your doctor.  Study Finds Universal Genetic Testing Uncovers More Inherited Mutations vs Guideline-Based Genetic Testing Oral Antibiotics and Risk of Colon or Rectal Cancer Pilot Study Finds Liquid Biopsy Delivers Results Faster Than Tissue Biopsy Cancer Therapy Based on Molecular Tumor Board Recommendations: Improvement in Outcomes? Study Examines Combined Impact of Aspirin, Metformin, and Statins on Lung Cancer Risk Is Drinking Coffee Daily Linked to Improved Survival in Patients With Advanced Colorectal Cancer? Use of ctDNA to Direct Therapy in Advanced Breast Cancer Launch of Compassionate Use Program for Ulixertinib  Outlook...
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Better cancer care

Better Cancer Care: How to Get What You Need

Published by on October 28, 2020 | Share your thoughts

“You get what you settle for.” You’ve probably heard that one before.  A good friend of mine told me this, many years ago, in relation to my dating life. I was seeing someone new and wasn’t sure if they were right for me…and my friend said, “well Michelle, you get what you settle for! So the question is: do you want to settle for him?”  I chewed on that for a while and eventually realized, yeah…I wasn’t going to settle for this particular man. And I’m so glad I didn’t!  Why am I telling you about my past dating woes?  Because “you get what you settle for” is true for many areas of life… Including cancer care.  Getting Better Cancer Care Requires Advocacy Standard cancer...
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Doctor and patient

What Questions Should You Ask Your Oncologist?

Published by on October 14, 2020 1 Comment

15 to 20 mins. That’s the average length your oncologist has to talk with you at your appointment.  No wonder they’re not able to tell you about ALL your treatment options. Nor ALL the diagnostics available.  Your oncologist’s day is full to the brim: they see, on average, over 50 patients per week! Plus meetings, rounds, and learning new standard protocols. They are exhausted. Between 47% to 74% of oncologists report burnout. 67% report exhaustion. Those numbers don’t exactly inspire confidence… Oncologists do not have time – even if they wanted – for personalized cancer research. Nor learning about all the NEW protocols beyond standard care. Not their fault; it’s just how public healthcare works. This means, unfortunately, that it’s your job to find out...
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DNA

My Personal Story…Dealing with Cancer in the Family

Published by on October 8, 2020 2 Comments

Michelle Morand here. I co-founded CTOAM, alongside research scientist Alex Rolland, over a decade ago. Each day we hear stories from people around the world who are struggling with cancer. So I thought it was high-time that I shared a personal story with you…about my own experience with cancer in the family. Like a Punch in the Gut… I had a beloved uncle who was like a father to me. He was a pianist who inspired my love of music and his sweet little dog, Inch, cemented my own love of animals. He was the family member I related to the most. I loved him dearly.   When he was diagnosed with cancer I was devastated…as was my mother, his big sister. Determined to do everything we could...
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CT Scan Misdiagnosis

Cancer Misdiagnosis – Should You Trust a CT Scan?

Published by on August 19, 2020 | Share your thoughts

Pretty much everyone dreads finding out they, or a loved one, have cancer. But that’s not even the worst part of a cancer diagnosis – what’s more stressful is wondering about cancer misdiagnosis. No fun. Read on to hear what happened to Gerry and how our research scientists at CTOAM were able to help. Gerry’s Cancer Misdiagnosis Story Gerry had been going about his life as usual. He worked an office day job that he liked, at a large company with decent health benefits. His wife, along with their two young boys, were the light of his life. Things were good. But after a routine work physical exam, everything changed. Gerry was given the news that no one ever wants to hear. A nightmare come...
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An older couple stand outside and the man kisses the woman on the cheek.

How to be a Better Cancer Care Advocate in 8 Simple Steps | Newsletter Issue 5

Published by on September 10, 2018 | Share your thoughts

Do you really need a Cancer Care Advocate or is the basic care you receive from your public oncologist good enough? Read on to find out the truth about standard care and decide for yourself. Joan was 45 years old when she was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic melanoma. Her public oncologist gave her the option of  standard chemotherapy , which, according to studies, would’ve given her approximately less than a year to live. Since her disease would not respond to  standard treatments , her oncologist told her that there were no other treatment options. She was told to get her affairs in order. But Joan wasn’t ready to accept this – so she and her husband reached out to CTOAM. Our cancer experts helped them to access the...
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