Rarity Life Magazine Featuring Rick Davis
Rarity Life Magazine Feature: Rick Davis
AnCan’s ambitious CEO and Founder, Rick Davis, recently sat down with Rarity Life, the magazine published by Same But Different Creative, to share the deeply personal journey that led to the creation of AnCan.
In the interview, Rick reflects on his early days navigating a prostate cancer diagnosis — a moment that reshaped his life & his understanding of what true support should look like. Like so many survivors and thrivers, he quickly discovered that information alone isn’t enough. What people often need most is connection — the chance to speak openly with others who truly understand the lived experience of cancer.
That realization became the foundation of AnCan.
Rick shares how traditional support models don’t always meet people where they are. Geographic limitations, physical health challenges, financial strain, rare diagnoses, and even the emotional weight of walking into an in-person group can all create barriers. For many, simply showing up can feel overwhelming.
AnCan was built to remove as many of those barriers as possible.
Rick’s full interview in Rarity Life offers an inspiring look at leadership shaped by lived experience, and a reminder that meaningful change often begins with one person asking: How can we do this better?
Read more stories & Rick’s article here:
https://www.samebutdifferentcic.org.uk/raritylife
Telehealth gets extended through 2027!
Telehealth gets extended through 2027!
As some of you may know, the liberal telehealth rules to conduct medical appointments remotely that were enabled during Covid, sunsetted late last year. AnCan was upset and vocal that many of our patient advocacy organizations active on The Hill did not campaign more widely to extend it. Organizations like ZERO (prostate cancer) have significant and expensive government relations groups precisely to address such issues on behalf of us patients. AnCan had to bring it to ZERO’s attention to move the ball at a time when ZERO’s high paid CEO was self-admittedly sleeping on the switch.
Telehealth was temporarily extended for those living in rural areas. Then one of our newly minted prostate cancer Moderators, David Sharpe, brought it to AnCan’s attention that legislation was passed on Feb 3, 2026 that has extended comprehensive telehealth through the end of 2027. We asked David to blog its welcome return to wider availability and tell his story around telehealth – thank you Mr. Sharpe!
Medicare Telehealth Coverage Is Extended
The federal government has restored Medicare coverage for telehealth until the end of 2027. That means you can now possibly consult with your doctors online rather than having to meet with them in-person.
Why did I say possibly? Because state medical licensing laws still apply. Often, they can undermine your doctor’s ability to join you on the call. Here’s why: (Don’t construe the following comments as legal or medical advice. This is general information only.)
Telehealth consultations are easiest to arrange when a patient and doctor are in the same state. For instance, if you live in Springfield, Illinois, and want to have a virtual chat with an oncologist in Chicago, no legal impediments are likely to stand in your way.
Things can get tougher if the doctor practices in another state. Physicians are typically required to be licensed in the state where the patient is physically located during the consult. Therein lies a common problem: the doctor is licensed in one state, and you’re in another.
But loopholes exist. According to the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP), “A few states have licenses or telehealth-specific exceptions that allow an out-of-state provider to render services via telemedicine in a state where they are not located, or allow a clinician to provide services via telehealth in a state if certain conditions are met (such as agreeing that they will not open an office in that state). Still other states have laws that don’t specifically address telehealth and/or telemedicine licensing, but make allowances for practicing in contiguous states. . . .” For specifics about your state’s rules, explore CCHP’s handy state-by-state guide: https://www.cchpca.org/topic/cross-state-licensing-professional-requirements/.
Despite those exceptions, many physicians and medical centers require patients to be in the same state as the doctor during telehealth appointments. I wish I’d known that last year, before trying to set up virtual consultations from my home in Portland, Oregon, with Fred Hutch (Washington), UCSF, City of Hope (both California), and MD Anderson (Texas0—all of whom turned me down. Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU, Oregon)) would have refused, too, if I had been in any other state.
But some physicians and hospitals were more relaxed about it. Despite remaining in Portland, I wrangled a telehealth visit with a UCLA specialist. Two AnCan buddies of mine in Oregon and Arizona did so as well. I had even better luck with out-of-state doctors in community practices. Two agreed to confer with me online, and one declined.
If you live near—but not in—the state where your doctor practices, perhaps the easiest option is to make a run for the border. One AnCan member has adopted that strategy as a convenient means of communicating with his faraway medical team in an adjacent state while also satisfying the legal requirements. To have that meeting, he travels a few miles from home to a casino just across the state line; the casino lets him conduct telehealth consultations there. That approach shaves hours off what would otherwise be a protracted road trip to talk with his doctors face-to-face. # # #
David Sharp davidsharp1@me.com
🌿 FDA Position on Cannabis and Cannabinoids
🌿 FDA Position on Cannabis and Cannabinoids
(Here is my take on this article Therapeutic Use of Cannabis and Cannabinoids A Review JAMA Network, 11/26/25. On a personal side, I use CBD to help me sleep, and with a little (5%) addition of THC, it is a great anxiety calmer – Sally Torgeson, AnCan Blood Cancer Moderator & Multiple Myeloma Coach)
Unapproved Cannabis
- The FDA has NOT approved the cannabis plant (botanical marijuana) for any medical use or indication.
- Because it is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law, the FDA has not found it to be safe or effective for the treatment of any disease or condition [1.1, 1.7].
- It is currently illegal to market CBD by adding it to food or labeling it as a dietary supplement in interstate commerce [2.1, 2.5].
FDA-Approved Cannabinoid Drugs
The FDA has approved a small number of prescription drugs containing either a purified cannabis-derived compound or synthetic cannabinoids:
- Epidiolex (Cannabidiol or CBD): The only FDA-approved drug that contains a purified substance derived directly from the cannabis plant. It is approved to treat seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Dravet syndrome, and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex in patients one year of age and older [1.8, 2.1].
- Marinol and Syndros (Dronabinol): Contain synthetic Δ9-
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Approved for: - Nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy in patients who have not responded to conventional antiemetic treatments [2.2, 2.3].
- Anorexia associated with weight loss in patients with HIV/AIDS [2.3].
- Cesamet (Nabilone): Contains a synthetic substance that is chemically similar to THC. Approved for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting [1.1, 2.3].
Regulatory Context
- The FDA maintains its authority to regulate products containing cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds, even those derived from hemp (cannabis with less than 0.3% THC), under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act [1.4].
- The FDA supports the development of new drugs through proper clinical trials to ensure they meet standards for safety and effectiveness [1.1, 2.4].
FDA-Approved Cannabinoid Drugs and Their Conditions
| Drug Name (Active Ingredient) | Source | FDA-Approved Condition(s) |
| Epidiolex (Cannabidiol or CBD) | Purified, plant-derived CBD | Seizures associated with: * Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) * Dravet syndrome (DS) * Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) |
| Marinol and Syndros (Dronabinol) | Synthetic THC ($ \Delta9 $-tetrahydrocannabinol) | * Nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy (when other antiemetics have failed) * Anorexia (loss of appetite) associated with weight loss in patients with HIV/AIDS |
| Cesamet (Nabilone) | Synthetic cannabinoid (similar to THC) | * Nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy (when other antiemetics have failed) |
Key Takeaway
- Epidiolex is the only drug approved that contains a substance derived directly from the Cannabis plant (CBD). It represents the strongest evidence for cannabinoid efficacy in reducing seizure frequency in certain rare forms of epilepsy [1.1, 1.2].
- The synthetic THC compounds (Dronabinol and Nabilone) are used primarily as a last resort for severe nausea/vomiting related to chemotherapy and for appetite stimulation in AIDS patients [1.2, 2.8].
The FDA has not approved the use of the whole cannabis plant for any medical condition, stressing the importance of standardized, tested pharmaceuticals for patient safety and proven effectiveness [1.7].1
Off-Label Use vs. Unapproved Use
1. Off-Label Use (Legal and Regulated)
This applies only to drugs that the FDA has already approved.
- What it is: Using an FDA-approved drug (like Epidiolex, Marinol, or Cesamet) for a condition, dose, or patient population that is not specifically listed on the drug’s official label.
- Legality: It is legal for a licensed physician to prescribe an approved drug for an off-label use if they believe it is medically appropriate for their patient.
- FDA Position: The FDA does not regulate the practice of medicine; however, the manufacturer cannot market or promote the drug for the off-label use. The safety and efficacy for the off-label use have not been verified by the FDA’s rigorous testing process.
Example: A doctor prescribing Marinol (Dronabinol), which is approved for nausea from chemotherapy, to a patient for chronic pain. The drug is approved, but the condition (chronic pain) is not on the label.
2. Unapproved Use (Non-FDA Approved Products)
This applies to the cannabis plant itself and most CBD/cannabinoid products on the market.
- What it is: Using the whole cannabis plant (botanical marijuana) or non-FDA-approved cannabis-derived products (like most CBD oils, edibles, or topicals) for any medical purpose.
- Legality:
- Federal: The whole plant is a Schedule I controlled substance and is not federally approved for any medical use.
- State: Use may be legal under state medical or recreational cannabis laws, but this does not change its status as an unapproved drug under federal FDA law.
- Federal: The whole plant is a Schedule I controlled substance and is not federally approved for any medical use.
- FDA Position: The FDA considers these products unapproved drugs and/or illegally marketed products (especially when CBD is added to food or marketed as a dietary supplement), as they have not been tested for safety, effectiveness, or quality assurance.
Example: A patient using a CBD tincture (which is not Epidiolex) to treat anxiety, or using THC flower to help with multiple sclerosis symptoms.
To correspond with Sally, please send an email to info@ancan.org, and we’ll be sure to send along.
Low/Intermediate PCa Video Chat, October 27, 2025
Low/Intermediate PCa Video Chat, October 27, 2025
Low/Intermediate PCa Video Chat, October 27, 2025
NEW monthly GAY & BISEXUAL MEN’s Prostate Cancer Group starting Tue, Oct 14. Sign up at https://ancan.org/contact-us/
AnCan is grateful to the following sponsors for making this recording possible: Bayer, Novartis, Johnson and Johnson, Myriad Genetics, Telix, Blue Earth Diagnostics, and Foundation Medicine.
WELCOME all to our newly recorded Low/Intermediate Prostate Cancer Group. To receive notice when new recordings are posted, either follow us on this YouTube Channel or sign up to our Blog via https://ancan.org/contact-us/ – check New Blog box.
Join our other free and drop in groups:
- Men (Only) Speaking Freely…1st & 3rd Thursdays @ 8.00 pm Eastern https://ancan.org/men-speaking-freely/
- Veterans Healthcare Navigation… 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 8.00 pm Eastern https://ancan.org/veterans/
AnCan respectfully notes that it does not accept sponsored promotion. Any drugs, protocols or devices recommended in our discussions are based solely on anecdotal peer experience or clinical evidence.
AnCan cannot and does not provide medical advice. We encourage you to discuss anything you hear in our sessions with your own medical team.
AnCan reminds all Participants that Adverse Events experienced from prescribed drugs or protocols should be reported to the pharmaceutical manufacturer or the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). To do so call 1-800-332-1066 or download interactive FDA Form 3500 https://www.fda.gov/media/76299/download
AnCan’s Prostate Cancer Forum is back (https://ancan.org/forums). If you’d like to comment on anything you see in our Recordings or read in our Reminders, just sign up and go right ahead. You can also click on the Forum icon at the top right of the webpage.
All AnCan’s groups are free and drop-in … join us in person sometime!
- You can find out more about our 12 monthly prostate cancer meetings at https://ancan.org/prostate-cancer/
- Sign up to receive a weekly Reminder/Newsletter for this Group or others at https://ancan.org/contact-us/
Editor’s Pick: Treatment recommendations including whole-gland radiation versus active surveillance. (bj)
Topics Discussed
PSA history; biopsy results and the importance of getting a second opinion; imaging for staging & PIRADS scoring; molecular/genetic testing including Polaris molecular predictive tests; treatment recommendations including whole-gland radiation versus active surveillance; PSMA PET scans and their high success rate for detection; various biopsy techniques stressing the importance of getting a MRI before a biopsy; Prostox as a test for predicting urinary issues following treatment; radiation treatments and the potential for urinary and erectile side effects.
Chat Log
AnCan – Stuart sent a chat · 7:45 PM
Dr. Ming Zhou – Mt Sinai Health System
Email: Ming.zhou@mountsinai.org
Phone: 212-241-8881
Dr. Jonathan Epstein – https://advanceduropathology.com/
Email: jepstein@imppllc.com
Phone: 516-760-2037
David Keller Jacksonville, Florida sent a chat · 9:01 PM
Thank you for a good meeting. Need to go. Have a great week.
Jim Stewart Reno, NV sent a chat · 9:15 PM
signing out, good night all!
Henry sent a chat · 9:31 PM
I was also informed to have surgery because of the enlarged prostrate . It changes things, when the prostate is larger than usual.
Mark WV sent a chat · 9:34 PM
Sorry have to go. good night
CNTV’s “Best of the Nation” featuring Rick Davis
CNTV’s “Best of the Nation” featuring Rick Davis
CNTV’s recent video features an interview with AnCan founder, Rick Davis. He explains that he started AnCan after his own diagnosis in 2007, after realizing inadequate support options, especially for those in remote areas. AnCan aims to eliminate barriers to entry for its various support groups, which range from cancer to chronic diseases. AnCan empowers patients to “Be your own best advocate” by providing them with the knowledge to speak confidently with their healthcare providers and offering peer-to-peer support.