by Life Credit Company | Jul 12, 2016 | Cancer Research & News
Modern technology has shown to have a surprising, yet exciting effect on providing help for cancer patients. A recent study found that a web application called MoovCare was highly effective in prolonging the lives of people with advanced lung cancer. The groundbreaking results are making waves in both the cancer-research and web-technology fields — with experts in both areas increasingly working together to offer help for cancer patients. What is MoovCare? MoovCare empowers patients to take control of their own health through self-reporting on their conditions through the medical software device. The app, created by Sivan Innovation, centers on the idea that cancer patients can prevent relapses, and elongate their life expectancy, by keeping track of a fixed set of symptoms each week. Users, or those who care for them, access the system once a week and register how they’re feeling based on 12 clinical symptoms. While most cancer patients attend frequent in-person follow-ups with their physicians, MoovCare relies on a specific algorithm that raises a red flag as soon as a change in symptoms could suggest a relapse — cutting out the wait time some patients may experience in waiting to see if their condition improves. If such an event occurs, the MoovCare team reaches out to the patient’s physician for intervention. The app is accessible on the web, as well as through a smartphone. What Does the Research Say? The French Institut de Cancérologie de l’Ouest conducted a study using MoovCare of 133 patients with lung cancer who were at high risk for a relapse after surgery. Most had stage III or stage IV cancer. Researchers asked...
by Life Credit Company | Jun 30, 2016 | Cancer Research & News
From car windows to front yards, the color pink has been splashed across countless surfaces to raise awareness for breast cancer. Now, that effort will have a new home — right in the pockets of Americans. A series of pink-hued coins is expected to be released in 2018. The U.S. Mint will produce 50,000 $5 coins, which will be tinged with pink, as well as 400,000 $1 coins and 750,000 half-dollar coins with symbols to reflect the fight against breast cancer. A national contest will be held to pick the artwork for the coins. The effort is meant to raise awareness for cancer patients battling the illness and the larger effort to combat new diagnoses. It also is designed to raise needed funds for the fight against breast cancer. A portion of the proceeds of coin sales will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The production of the coins would be covered by the sales price. The idea was conceived of by New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, who led legislation, known as the Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Act, that called for the creation of the coins, which President Obama ultimately signed. In an interview with the Associated Press, Maloney cited the startling statistics about breast cancer: About one in eight women will develop the disease in their lifetime. “The only obstacle standing between us and a cure is further research, and that research needs funding,” Maloney said. “The funds raised through coin sales could be the ones that lead to the discovery of a cure to this devastating disease.” While breast cancer remains the most common...
by Life Credit Company | Jun 23, 2016 | Cancer Research & News
If you’re looking for a one-stop-shop resource for cancer patients, look no further than OncoLink. From educational information for people who are newly diagnosed to support for those going through treatments to community-building efforts for survivors, OncoLink addresses all aspects of the cancer journey. A strong history OncoLink traces its roots back more than two decades. It was started in 1994 by Dr. Joel Goldwein of the University of Pennsylvania, and holds the distinction as the very first comprehensive website offering cancer information. The concept of gathering medical information online was novel at the time; there were just 30,000 web pages available then, compared to the approximately 1 billion now. As technology has evolved, the website has undergone many transformations; it began largely as a way to connect cancer patients to other sources of information but over time started publishing original content. The material itself gradually diversified, with content generated by everyone from doctors to nurses to social workers to patients themselves. Despite its evolution, OncoLink has remained committed to its original stated goal: “to support patients, caregivers and practitioners through education.” Material for all users Education is everywhere on OncoLink. On the home page, visitors have the option of researching by cancer type — with two-dozen pages on different types of the disease. On each page, users can access in-depth information about treatment options, prevention, screening, and support. The pages are also sorted according to who’s seeking the information: patients or healthcare professionals. Patients can learn about the latest in treatments, from chemotherapy to proton therapy to vaccine therapy. The information is presented in...
by Life Credit Company | Jun 17, 2016 | Cancer Research & News
Today’s youth are typically well-versed in technology — a reality that is helping young cancer patients. Web and mobile applications are increasingly used for information sharing, and such technology is also now being relied on for people seeking emotional support. With just a few clicks, people all over the world can connect, share stories, and find much-needed solidarity. One organization pursuing such a strategy is The Children’s Eye Cancer Foundation, based in Germany. Its new app, RB-World, provides online help for cancer patients, specifically those battling retinoblastoma. The disease originates in the retinal region in the eye and most commonly develops in childhood. For that reason, RB-World is open to patients and survivors as young as 12. The free app allows users to instantly connect with other people who’ve been diagnosed with retinoblastoma. While they can share medical advice and information, the app largely encourages users to share stories. Isolation can be a very real risk after a cancer diagnosis; a patient may feel like no one in his or her life can relate to the fears and frustrations that cancer can bring on a daily basis. With RB-World, however, patients have instant access to a sea of people who’ve faced the same challenges as them. The app functions as a virtual support group. In-person groups may be intimidating for some patients, but this app provides the benefits of such groups in a comfortable online space. RB-World organizers tout both the safety and accessibility of the app. All information users input is SSL-encrypted, which means privacy won’t be violated. Users have to register through a unique invitation code, and...
by Life Credit Company | Mar 22, 2016 | Cancer Research & News
Cancer treatments come with a lot of worries — side effects, scheduling, payments — but one that patients shouldn’t concern themselves with is transportation. American Cancer Society offers patients free door-to-door rides to their treatments. The Road to Recovery program can be a lifesaver for patients who are too ill to drive themselves, lack access to their own vehicle or don’t have family or friends who can take them to their appointments. So how is this possible? How it works This important resource for cancer patients is supported through the kindness and generosity of ACS’ team of volunteers. Road to Recovery volunteers donate their time, and their own vehicles, to pick patients up and take them to a medical facility in their area where the patient is scheduled for treatment. The service is solely for patients who are beginning or continuing cancer treatments; those who have completed treatment and are seeing a physician for a follow-up appointment are not eligible for Road to Recovery. Participants also need to be able to walk independently, or travel with a caregiver. A companion is also required for patients under 18. How can I get involved? If you’re looking to take advantage of this important resource for a cancer patient in your life, or for yourself, all you need to do is call the ACS helpline to get started: 1-800-227-2345. From there, the patient will be matched with a volunteer driver in the area; all organizers ask is that driving requests are made at least four business days before the appointment. Volunteering is just as simple as signing up! Interested volunteers...
by Life Credit Company | Mar 18, 2016 | Cancer Research & News
Cancer can take its toll on the body — but it can also wreak havoc on the mind. Sadness, grief and anxiety are to be expected after a cancer diagnosis, but the illness can trigger more serious, and debilitating, depression. According to the National Cancer Institute, up to a quarter of all cancer patients suffer from depression. Depression is a serious condition about which patients should consult their doctors. Apart from seeking medical treatment, other resources also exist, including online help for cancer patients suffering from depression. Thanks to the Association of Cancer Resources, people fighting cancer have access to an unlimited amount of support, right at their fingertips. ACOR offers an astounding 142 different online communities, most of which are classified according to the types of cancer. The site also features communities focused on specific side effects, childhood cancers and non-cancerous diseases. Each community is connected through its own email list, which works like a two-way street for information: Users can send out emails about everything from new medical developments to challenges or triumphs they’ve encountered, and can also ask for advice or resources from fellow group members to assist them in their journey. In addition to its email lists, ACOR has created, and also hosts, a variety of websites for both patients and caregivers to access and share information and support. Its OnoChat is a clearinghouse for anyone whose lives have been touched by cancer; the site steers away from the clinical side of things and instead focuses on creating community through engaging and lively discussions. Visitors can chat about the real-life impact of cancer. Most important...
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