ICAN mourns the passing of Robert W. Reimer, who passed away on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 following a courageous battle with melanoma. Bob’s kind and giving nature touched many people around the world, and the paths that Bob, together his wife, Barbara, pioneered regarding clinical care, biomarker testing, and drug access, will assist scores of future cancer patients. Bob and Barbara made a consummate team as their efforts took them through centers in the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Canada. Their drive and perseverance, coupled with their warmth, attracted an international network of leading clinicians and research scientists. Bob’s experience underscores the borderless nature of cancer as a disease, and the importance of enabling global access to efficacious drugs and therapies to all patients. A touching remembrance of Bob can be found here.

• A complete review of the patient’s medical history and risk factors (UV rays, skin phototype, family history, sunburns, moles); a review of symptoms and signs prior to presentation (ABCD rule); a review of diagnostic criteria and complementary tests (dermatoscopy, biopsy, ultrasound,PET/CT); a review and analysis of the patient’s pathology report relating to AJCC classification with TNM staging ("Tumor Node Metastasis") based on the latest guidelines and changes, as well as prognostic factors (sentinel node, Breslow index, Clark level, mitotic index, tumor location, pattern of growth, histological type, age and sex).
• Referrals, at the patient contact's request, to medical oncologists, dermatologists, radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiologists, interventional radiologists, anesthesiologists, and additional specialists relevant to the patient's ongoing care.
• Referrals to support groups that may be of assistance in handling the emotional impact that cancer has on the patient and the patient's family. As well as access to Susan L. Heffon Pre-Hospice and Palliative Care Program, integrating the work of medical and caregiving team about home health care and palliative care issues.
• Referrals to Melanoma cancer-specific organizations that may be of assistance in addressing insurance issues or employment termination issues (because of diagnosis or disclosure of metastatic disease).
• Review of the nature/amelioration of specific side effects from immunotherapy and chemotherapy (such as nausea, neuropathy, hair loss, mouth sores, fatigue, increased risk of infection, weakness and increased bleeding), as well as from other treatment modalities (radiation, BC G injections).
• Discussion of the interaction of diet and cancer chemotherapy drugs based on recent studies (type of diet to follow while on drugs).
• Delineation of the symptoms about which the patient should alert his/her oncologist (fever, difficulty breathing, sudden or worsening swelling or pain, new moles).
• Discussion of relevant melanoma imaging technology for metastatic disease.
• Discussion of pain management issues and treatment options that can be addressed with the patient's medical team.
• Explanation of the recommendations given or not given by the patient's physicians; assistance in answering the patient's questions which remain either after or between appointments with the medical team.
• Review of the relevant radiotherapy /interventional radiology which the patient contact, in turn, may discuss with his/her medical team.
• Discussion of the relevance of the patient's specific immunohistochemistry (IHC) and cytogenetic results to available clinical trials so that the patient may explore all options with his/her medical team.
• Analysis of relevant melanoma cancer clinical trials options as well as the nature and purpose of clinical trials using Remission Coach®.
• Review of relevant Melanoma cancer-specific drugs in the anticancer pipeline (immunotherapy with/without citoquines)
• Review of all relevant and complementary and alternative medicine ("CAM") avenues approved by the medical oncology team or by an integrative respected oncologist from the medical oncology team (photodynamic Therapy, BRAF, KIT and MEK inhibitors, new immunotherapy drugs). ^{[1] [2] [3]}
• Review of the merits of filing a "Single Patient Investigational New Drug (IND) for Compassionate or Emergency Use" for a specific experimental cancer drug, if relevant to the patient's situation.
• Exploration of options that might reduce travel costs for the patient contact, such as Corporate Angels Network, as well as ICAN supporters who have volunteered to host a clinical trials patient in a particular city.