Being a knowledgeable patient
Creating your treatment roadmap
Being an Empowered Patient
to accelerate research breakthroughs.
Knowledge is Power
Regardless of the type, stage or
At the MMRF, we encourage you to be
Would you purchase a car without
prognosis, cancer is a life-altering event.
an empowered patient.
test driving it? Start a new job without
Each person’s experience with cancer is
a unique journey.
MMRF Founder and Executive
Chairman Kathy Giusti recently
knowing the job description? Buy a
new house sight unseen? No.
Knowledge is power; power to
In today’s world, patients are not only
published an article in the Huffington
at the center of their own care, but
Post entitled “Becoming Your Best
the single most important drivers of
Cancer Care Advocate: 5 Steps Could
As soon as you are diagnosed, work
their cancer experiences. There is a
Make All the Difference.” By following
to learn as much as possible about
powerful revolution under way—that
her five steps, Kathy believes that
your specific disease, its treatments
of the informed cancer patients who
cancer patients can take control of their
and the potential effects on your body
bank their tissue for future study; who
care and ensure that they receive the
both short and long-term; research
question whether they harbor genetic
individualized attention they deserve.
treatment guidelines, typical protocols
mutations and other abnormalities
The steps are:
and investigational treatments that may
for which lifesaving new treatments
1. Know your disease inside and out
be available to you.
already exist or are under study in
2. Integrate your team
clinical trials; and who share their data
3. Bank your samples
make informed decisions.
Write down all of your questions and
demand answers.
4. Know your sequence
5. Look beyond your treatment center
12
T HE MMRF.ORG