Why ALD Automotive | LeasePlan supports My Cancer Navigator

The Anti-Cancer Fund does scientific research on cancer and tries to weigh in on European policy around the disease. But their My Cancer Navigator service fits into a third activity of the organisation: informing cancer patients. My Cancer Navigator is an online and telephone contact point where patients are helped very individually, from all the knowledge the organisation has in-house with its own doctors and scientists.

Noise on the line

According to Gabry, there is a lot of noise on the line when someone is faced with a cancer diagnosis. ‘In an ideal world, an organisation like ours, or the service we offer with My Cancer Navigator, would not be needed,’ Gabry says.‘But often patients just don't get enough information, and lack a clear answer to the questions they have for their treating doctors. With a cancer diagnosis comes a lot of emotions, people do not always capture everything that is said. Doctors also do not always realise that they are using jargon, or going over things too quickly. Some patients are also afraid to ask for more explanations, or inquire about other options. It also happens regularly that people with rare cancers come to us,to look together at options that are not always available in the hospital where they are being treated. We then put them on the path of clinical studies that are not always known to their doctor.’

Beacon in the chaos

The Anti-Cancer Fund is often a beacon in the chaos for patients, because a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. ‘Most patients approach us when they have been undergoing treatment for some time, but sometimes also shortly after their diagnosis: for example, they have already had a CT scan that showed a tumour, but are still waiting for the results of other tests,’ says Gabry. ‘Then we already indicate which directions it could go and which questions they can ask their doctor. That gives them a handhold and offers reassurance.’

No second opinion

What My Cancer Navigator does not provide is a second opinion. ‘It is not our intention to question the decisions of the treating doctors,’ says Gabry.‘We are very strict about that: we do not give a second opinion, and we do not give advice. Nor do we treat patients ourselves: we make sure that patients know and understand the different treatment options and can therefore have an informed conversation with their treatment team.’

Doctor Google

With cancer patients, the most explicit questions often come after they have returned home from a meeting with the treatment team. And then the temptation to reach for ‘Doctor Google’ is great. With My Cancer Navigator, the Anti-Cancer Fund aims to counterbalance this, so that patients are not overwhelmed by information without being able to interpret it properly. Or so that - more importantly - they are not misled.

‘There are people who like to look up everything, and then return to their doctor with a whole list of questions, most of which may not be relevant to their situation,’ says Gabry. ‘We help those people make a selection in that. We also play a big role in debunking pseudoscience. There is a lot of disinformation on the internet, with private clinics touting miracle remedies, usually for a lot of money. Very nasty, distressing, nasty things happen in those. And we can prevent that.’Matching and informing

ALD Automotive | LeasePlan is a matchfunder of the Anticancer Fund: we double donations on the organisation's crowdfunding platform.‘We are extremely grateful to you for this financial support, and we are also very happy with the extra attention you are giving our work and service,’ says Gabry. ‘The more people we can tell about My Cancer Navigator, the better.’

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