International Cancer Advocacy Network

ICAN, International Cancer Advocacy Network, provides cancer patient advocacy and information services to late-stage cancer patients. Our mission is to extend life with the highest achievable quality of life. This is implemented through working with the patient and his/her family on every detail of the patient's case. We research clinical trials, compassionate use, and expanded access issues. ICAN emphasizes improving patient-centered outcomes throughout the journey with cancer.

ICAN, International Cancer Advocacy Network, has helped over 18,000 cancer patients since we began in 1996. We have a small staff and more than 280 volunteers worldwide. With our volunteer leadership representing 17 different time zones, we literally work around the clock, focusing on our Personalized Medicine Cancer Case Navigation Programs, health information technology issues, legislative initiatives, and research projects.

We aim to provide you with the best patient advocates, and the most effective cancer patient advocacy possible, with the twin goals of working to extend your life with the highest quality of life.

ICAN advocates for you - the patient - or for the patient's spouse or family member who wants to manage the details of their loved one's cancer case with us.

We are beholden to no one - no oncology practice, no medical center, no clinical trial, and no biotech or pharmaceutical company.

Your case is unique, and in our many years of non-stop advocacy services, we've never seen two patient cases that are the same. Our individualized services are designed to focus on the specific needs of each patient.

ICAN empowers you to navigate rapidly-expanding diagnostic and personalized treatment options. This information will assist you in having informed discussions with physicians, family and providers.

We never, ever, compromise patient privacy (we are zealous implementers of HIPAA). We will not disclose your name or any identifying information, or exploit your case for fundraising purposes. Similarly, donor information is never shared with any other entity.

Testimonials

When I got my prostate cancer diagnosis in 2011, it was just another thing, another difficult addition in a time of marital dissolution, family illnesses, and financial chaos. I had no experience of my diagnosis as heartrending, as panic inducing; it came at a point where life seemed to pile on.

I knew to investigate. I knew to visit as many cancer specialists as possible and to question their recommendations, and to gather credible information about their particular forte.

I did so unto the point of being stuck. I was in paralysis-by-analysis: I had much information and had listened to each cancer specialist assure me that his/her approach was correct while telling me that other specialists couldn't offer me better. All of this information had me frozen in indecisiveness.

A dear friend had lost her husband to prostate cancer a few years before I received my diagnosis. It was only natural that I would share with her my travails. When I told her of all my due diligence and of my being stuck in place, she was dismayed at my immobility. She urged me to call ICAN. She was sure that ICAN could help me find a way forward, and if she was so certain, then that was good enough for me.

Marcia picked up the phone and began my life saving advocacy. ICAN, which to me *IS* Marcia Horn, helped me out by giving context to all of the data I had gathered. ICAN helped me see that much of cancer care is siloed. Each specialist an expert in her/his universe is too often isolated from other cancer care perspectives.

Marcia affirmed my research. She instructed me to see a medical oncologist, one whose concern would be the best treatment for my prostate cancer and not necessarily invested in a particular practice's treatment. I was stunned when she suggested specific doctors here in the Hub of the medical world. She didn't leave me hanging!

Were it not for ICAN, well, I don't know and neither do I want to consider such for too long. Connecting with Marcia and ICAN was the tipping point at which surviving this disease became my reality.

ICAN's investment of its time and expertise in my life to extend, to save my life, has imbued my life with this goal: to help Black, LatinX, and other underserved cancer patient populations receive ICAN's loving, expert, invigorative cancer patient advocacy as have I.

Andrew J. Brown, Jr., Massachusetts

There are not enough stars to give full credit to Marcia Horn and her work. Marcia has achieved legendary status among NSCLC clinicians, researchers and caregivers, bridging the gap between patients and access to promising treatment options. She is brilliant, compassionate, tireless and tenacious and continues to be a steadfast guiding light for so many of us in this fight. I personally credit my husband's current health status to Marcia's lightning-swift work in connecting us with a top specialist...