AnCan Foundation is committed to improve the lot of people living with cancer as well as others with serious and chronic conditions.
Here are a few areas where we are currently active:
Gene Sequencing
Answer Cancer is actively encouraging the introduction of clinical protocols to guide the use of genome sequencing for those living with advanced cancer.
Prostate Cancer
Answer Cancer actively promotes the consolidation of the highly fragmented efforts by too many prostate cancer organizations, with the goal to increase awareness and funding for prostate cancer.
We believe greater collaboration brings about greater awareness and we strongly support these concepts. AnCan encourages organizations to work together rather than pushing their own agenda, protecting their own territory and boosting their personal and organizational egos. Such behavior fails to serve the interest of the prostate cancer community at large.
Foundation Medicine Inc.
Rick Davis serves on the recently created Patient Community Council for Foundation Medicine Inc, a world-leading molecular insights company that provides genomic sequencing and connects patients, medical teams and biopharma companies.
For over 3 years Rick advocated for FMI to create patient input space for this key function that allows patients to identify precision and immunotherapy drugs. FMI listened, and created this council in late 2018. For more information, see the following videos:
HealtheVoices Conference
In 2018 Rick Davis was invited to attend the all-expense paid HealtheVoices Conference that gathers approximately 150 of the most prominent patient leaders who all have a presence on the internet. He returned in 2019 as an Advisor on the Steering Committee and a Presenter. His goal is to see HealtheVoices become the gold standard for best practices amongst Patient Leaders and Advocates.
Follow along with HealtheVoices Virtual Events
Janssen Pharmaceuticals
Janssen asked Rick Davis to spread the message for prostate cancer awareness at the 2019 PCF Blue Jacket Gala as part of Men’s New York Fashion Week. He also advocates on behalf of prostate cancer patients regarding Janssen products and their prostate cancer pipeline and will continue to work with Janssen on prostate cancer related issues.
Recent Activity
Feb 27, 2017
The Center for Medicare Services (CMS) recently issued a ‘Call Letter’ regarding ‘Non-Recommended PSA-Based Screening in Older Men (Part C).’ Essentially its purpose is to withhold PSA screening for undiagnosed men over 70.
AnCan has sent CMS the following letter in response:
To whom it may concern:
As a nationally recognized advocate representing a patient advocacy, navigation and support non-profit, I assist many men over 70 diagnosed with prostate cancer. Not infrequently our organization helps men diagnosed with high risk or advanced disease at 70 or older.
Answer Cancer Foundation strongly opposes withholding screening tests for men over 70. While we agree that a minimum of 10 year life expectancy may be a reasonable criteria, 70 is definitely not the cut-off for many men. To condone a man to death from prostate because screening has been withheld is inhumane and unconscionable.
CMS mistakenly blames PSA testing for overtreatment. PSA testing is about information NOT treatment. The test is not to blame for over-treatment – rather look to treating physicians whose poor communication and financial conflict of interest encourages poor decisions. We implore you to drill down on these practitioners who abuse of Medicare funds by providing unnecessary prostate cancer treatment to boost billings.
AnCan unreservedly supports universal PSA testing. PSA testing is not responsible for over treatment ……..PSA testing is about information NOT treatment.