Massachusetts Cancer Nonprofit Continues Saving Lives Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - March 25, 2020 - PRLog -- Cancer Education and Research Institute® (CERI), the first and only simplified and multi-language, global cancer nonprofit and winner of the United Nations UNIATF 2019 Award, continues to save cancer patients' lives amid COVID-19 pandemic.

"Cancer is such a disease that, for some cases and cancer types, it requires quick action in diagnosis and treatment," said Ayguen Sahin, MSc, PhD, CEO, Founder, and Cancer Lead of CERI, a cancer researcher and former Harvard faculty.  "We had an already scheduled biopsy at Mass Eye and Ear last week for our patient before the Coronavirus crisis emerged here in Massachusetts and it was critical for our patient to get this done. In the meantime, the COVID-19 crisis rose rapidly, and I was worried as to what would expect us at the hospital and to be exposed to a potential harm. I was also worried whether I can still be on our patient's side as per usual through the entire surgery process, which, I know, can be quite intimidating for a cancer patient who is already worried about the situation they live through."

"Luckily, this time, our patient was fluent in English, but wasn't familiar with the U.S. hospital or healthcare system. Due to the outbreak the situation wasn't too ideal as we couldn't be with the patient right before and after the surgery as the patient's immediate representative. It could have been worse if we had a non-English speaking patient in this situation to take care of who would completely trust their life with us."

Through its CERI Personalized Patient Program™ (canceredinstitute.org/patient-program (https://www.canceredinstitute.org/patient-program.html)), CERI accompanies its patients during pre- and post-diagnosis, treatments, and educates them thoroughly on their cancer type, procedures, treatments, and clinical trials, so that the patient understands the entire process and can make informed decisions. As of today, 80% of its patients are cancer free.

"We have another cancer patient, a 2.5 years old boy in Baku, Azerbaijan, who is in need for a specific cancer immunotherapy treatment, available here in the U.S," said Dr. Sahin. "The current travel restrictions and angst due to the pandemic makes a treatment in the U.S. impossible. The little boy has already a compromised immune system, but its cancer needs to be cured as soon as possible. We are truly worried for the exponential expansion of this pandemic, as more cancer patients could be affected by it," she continued.

"A strict nation and worldwide lockdown for 14 days would be necessary to efficiently deal with this outbreak and to stop the Coronavirus' exponential spread."

To donate to CERI visit: canceredinstitute.org/donate.