Patient Testimonials
Here are just a few of hundreds of testimonials about ICAN's Patient Services...
When my dear friend, Cathy Partin, agreed to volunteer for the IFADD (now ICAN) 2005 Jewels of the Sea Ball, she had no idea how her participation in that event would end up saving her friend's life. Just days before, I was diagnosed with a recurrence of my breast cancer, which had advanced to Stage IV. My oncologist was not at all optimistic about my chances.
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| Oncologist Devon Webster, MD, with ICAN Patient Shari Baker, discussing her breast cancer clinical trial in Seattle in May, 2006 | Shari Baker and Cathy Partin in January, 2009 |
The morning after the Ball, Cathy could not wait to call me and give me the organization's phone number. An IFADD Program Services staffer called me back immediately, and referred me to a leading breast oncologist for a second opinion. More than five years later, I am still in remission, thanks to a clinical trial. The Jewels of the Sea Ball was a bigger event than Cathy ever imagined. It just might have saved my life. ICAN reacted immediately, reassured me, and gave me hope and new strategic options. Thank you, ICAN!
Shari Baker • Scottsdale • Arizona
In 2010, the ICAN Board of Trustees created a program honoring Shari Baker:
The Shari L. Baker Breast Cancer Survivors Program
For more information, please see: Researcher Mary L. "Nora" Disis: Studying a cancer vaccine
Brighton Living: New Life, New Pursuit
"...I've had extensive experience working with a variety of oncologists, scientists in various disciplines, and advocates assisting the victims of cancer....One of the most dedicated, productive, resourceful, creative, and overall brilliant advocates for cancer victims that I've ever had the pleasure of knowing and assisting is (ICAN's CEO) Marcia K. Horn. She leads...with great expertise and productivity."
G. Robert Pettit, Ph.D. • Regents Professor, Arizona State University
Cancer Research and Medicinal Chemistry
Dr. Pettit is one of the world's most prolific discoverers of anticancer drugs for human cancer treatment.
Hi I'm Jay C. 38 years old from Cavite, Philippines and I'm one of the lucky cancer (testicular cancer) patient who has readily been assisted by Ms. Marcia Horn. She is a jewel for us who has cancer. She helps us in all the steps to undertake to make us prepared for the challenges ahead. She also makes good advise and serves as my 2nd opinion that guides me well in my cancer treatment. I couldn't thank you more and we are lucky to have and know you.
Keep up the good work and God bless you always. More power!
Jay C. • Cavite, Philippines
When my husband was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer,my life went into shock and hyperdrive at the same time. I was bent on getting him the best information out there to reassure us both that we had access to the best team and the best medicines and best techniques available. I always referred to this disease as "we have cancer." I put all my friends to task as well, and one very special friend directed me to ICAN. It was the culmination of the search for credible and accessible information, including the doctors and the medicines that we needed. Thank you beyond all thank you's, ICAN, for your perseverance in supporting all of us suffering from this disease and the phenomenal work you are doing.
Allene Avey • Phoenix, AZ
The Barbara Cussler Lung Cancer Patient Advocacy Program at ICAN
We want to thank everyone at ICAN so much for all your support and your timely intervention regarding my dad's cancer. You were a Godsend at a very scary time in his, and our, lives. Male breast cancer is very rare, and without your help and guidance we wouldn't have had a clue where to turn. I am happy to say that my dad did NOT die of cancer, rather a bad heart valve. Thanks again!
Patrick Strong • North Hollywood, CA
Kenneth Strong Cancer Patient Advocacy Program at ICAN
Following my husband's treatment in a clinical proton beam radiation and chemotherapy in preparation for a complete Whipple Surgery, we had many questions. We followed the advice of someone who knows ICAN very well and contacted the organization for help. Since then, we have received a great deal of useful information from the ICAN Staff. By keeping in touch with us and intuitively providing us with the information we need to know, ICAN is truly the best "coach" imaginable. The knowledge gained from working with ICAN has definitely enhanced our game plan. As a result, we have been able to express our questions to our oncology team in a compelling manner. Cheers to ICAN – here’s to life, to hope, and to vitality!
Carol Kaplan • Wayland, MA
Pancreatic Cancer Patient Advocacy and Clinical Trials Advocacy Programs at ICAN
While the doctors in Poland were giving us no hope or any encouragement and simply "wrote off" the patient, the International Cancer Advocacy Network (ICAN) responded in a very efficient, professional manner providing wonderful referrals and suggestions.
Marcin • Chicago, IL
Thank you so much for being extremely responsive. You amaze me with your attitude dealing with people with complex and depressing issues. I am grateful that my sister forwarded your info on to me.
Beth • Elmhurst, IL
What you offer is something that no family member or friend can – clarity and practical, actionable info from experience and contacts.
Karen W. • Orlando, FL
Thank you again. You have given me back my perspective and helped me clear my head so I am not in panic mode any longer.
Donna • Phoenix, AZ
A long overdue thank you for your advocacy, caring, research, intervention, expertise, and for doing all that you do. You saved Jackie from unnecessary procedures and educated all of us in the process. We know that this is what you do every day
regardless of your other commitments.
Please put this "thank you" towards helping ICAN continue to do what you do so well. We are blessed to have you in our "family" and once again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Letty, Sam, and Jackie • Sun City West, AZ
On behalf of all of us… Thank You!... for all of your support and guidance, we don’t know what we would have done without you.
Jeff P. • Cave Creek, AZ
What you are doing and have done is simply remarkable. I cannot thank you enough.
Jason M. • Staten Island, NY
ICAN: You are the voice of calm, reason, and stability coupled with tremendous intellect and knowledge when the rest of the world seems to be spinning out of control.
Diana C. • Marin County, California
I really want to say thank you. You have helped me tremendously not only seek out help, but guided me in possible solutions to this terrible illness. I honestly never expected to meet someone so willing to help, someone who would hold my hand throughout the whole thing, and really inspire me. But from the first time I met you, I knew that you were different. So many people offer small gestures of help, but not you; you were so insightful about possible treatment options (especially the TPN and Dr. R) when I had no clue what to do next. It really showed me someone with passion, emotion, and a heart which are qualities not commonly found in the world of oncology. Again, thank you!
Arthur • Los Angeles, CA
Reflections of an ICAN Breast Cancer Patient
I am alive today due, in large part, to IFADD. As a 45-year-old battling metastatic breast cancer, I have had three chemotherapies, four radiation protocols, and I am on my third [round of] hormone therapy. In the spring of 2002, IFADD’s CEO, Marcia Horn, asked Jay Alderson, my father-in-law, how I was doing since I had been diagnosed two years earlier with breast cancer. He reported that I was experiencing lower back and leg pain.Marcia told Jay that "when one has been previously diagnosed with breast cancer, there’s no such thing as unrelated back or leg pain unless a bone scan has been taken and shows that the breast cancer has not spread to the bone." Based on IFADD’s urgent recommendation, I told my oncologist – who had not ordered a bone scan – to order one immediately. The scan showed a golf ball-sized tumor in the lumbar area of my spine. It was so large and obstructive that it had gone way past the point of being operable.
So, the breast cancer had, in fact, spread to the bone, and IFADD had suspected that fact before my own medical team had. Immediately after I wrote to IFADD with the results of the bone scan, I received four very detailed, informative, and compassionate e-mails from IFADD. Empowered by this accessible and relevant information, I met with my medical team to discuss my treatment options and my prognosis. I've been in contact with IFADD ever since, on every aspect of my treatment plan, plus I've consulted IFADD at each fork in the road that calls for a decision on what to do next in the battle for my life.
Because of IFADD and its Breast Cancer Patient Advocacy Programs, I was no longer willing to accept back and leg exercises and useless prescriptions for muscle relaxants (prescribed by my former medical team) as a substitute for diagnostic imaging to see if my cancer had spread.
Because of IFADD’s wonderful lifeline of Program Services – that your generous support tonight will continue to make possible – I took responsibility for my health care by seeking a second opinion at M.D. Anderson, and turning to Arizona Oncology Associates in Phoenix for my subsequent care.
Because of IFADD, I have an ongoing lifeline of information support plus the moral support of this incredible organization, and I now have a real passion to talk to other late-stage cancer patients … to emphasize the importance of patient empowerment and clinical trials.
Because of IFADD, I am better equipped to encourage our national legislators to do all they can to expedite the anticancer drug pipeline through enhanced funding of the National Institutes of Health.
Although Sylvia lost her battle with cancer in June 2005, she remained confident and insistent that she had been blessed ... IFADD had saved her life, not once, but twice. In the last stages of her illness, Sylvia said that the end would have come much sooner, had it not been for IFADD.
The above remarks were written and presented by Sylvia Vizcaya-Alderson at the IFADD Jewels of the Sea Ball 2004 at the Westin Kierland Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Unsung heroes are not that hard to find if you keep your eyes open and your idolatry of "rock stars" and "sports personalities" in check.
More difficult to understand is that angels really do exist. This month, I am humbled to even mention her name, because she is an angel and I do not float in that company.
Her name is Marcia Horn. She is the daughter of U.S. Rep. Steve Horn from California. She is also the unrequiting, non-apologetic, stubborn, in-your-face-fighting chief executive officer of the International Foundation for Anticancer Drug Discovery (IFADD) [ed. note: IFADD became ICAN in 2007].
She doesn't just fight the fight, she lives, breathes and dreams to end this evil. Now I know you do not want to talk about it. You may have quit reading this note because you do not wish to even think about cancer.
By doing so, you take Marcia Horn for granted. Because she never stops thinking about it. You should not do that; you should be aware that right now, this second, Marcia is working with some doctor, some fundraiser, some bureaucrat, some politician, some lobbyist, and most important and probably, some victim, helping them in treatment, coping, and living.
Help her or get out of her way. This lady is special. She is an angel. And she will not be denied. She's mad as hell, too. We're all so lucky to have her....
Dick Foreman, The Arizona Republic, Opinions
Thursday, October 7, 1999 (reprinted with permission)
Click on the image above to see this article from "Angels of Arizona" - a tribute to nonprofit organizations, benefactors and volunteers.