Mission
We strive to improve cancer health outcomes, FDA cancer clinical trial diversity and enrollment, and patient access to care by providing assistance with clinical trial navigation, reimbursing trial-related travel costs, and partnering with at-risk communities to mobilize resources.
Vision
Our vision is that everyone affected by cancer will have hope, dignity, support and the most advanced treatments made available to them at all stages of their journey.
What We Do
We improve the outcome of cancer care, giving hope, dignity and life to advanced stage cancer patients and the medically-underserved by providing assistance with costs for FDA clinical trial participation, identification of clinical trial options, community outreach and engagement. We provide resources for cancer patients who have been told they have no other options, but who are not yet done with their journey in life and refuse to give up.
- We help patients of all ages and walks of life, with all forms of cancer.
- We help patients take advantage of medical breakthroughs today, because they may not have a tomorrow.
- We believe that the size of a patient’s bank account should not stand between them and the choices they make or the treatments they need.
- We present clinical trials as an alternative to hospice care for those who want to remain engaged in their fight against cancer.
- We aspire to improve cancer survival rates through screenings and early detection, with a focus on the medically-underserved to address health disparities.
The Lazarex Care program focuses on improving the outcome of cancer care by identifying FDA clinical trial options, providing assistance with out-of-pocket costs for clinical trial participation and a travel companion, and facilitating community outreach and engagement.
Sometimes, in a patient’s battle with cancer, one is exposed to a gap in cancer care when they progress to advanced stage and all available treatment options fail them. Most often, despite the desire to continue fighting the disease, hospice is the recommended course of action. For these patients, medical breakthroughs offered through clinical trial participation are an alternative to hospice. However, there are many barriers to participation that seem insurmountable for patients who are emotionally, physically, and financially spent.
In 2006, Lazarex Cancer Foundation was created to bridge this gap and remove the barriers. Lazarex is a publicly funded 501(c)(3) charity and has served over 8,000 patients with access to cancer clinical trials.
Clinical trials are the capstone of the drug development process. Patient participation is crucial to the successful completion of a trial. However, patient recruitment to clinical trials has historically plagued the research industry.
- 11% of trials never enroll a single patient
- 37% are grossly under-enrolled, delaying the approval of drugs
- Increasing development costs and lack of insurance coverage for trial-related expenses are most egregiously preventing patients from taking advantage of medical breakthroughs in technology.
Only 6% of eligible patients participate in trials and only 5% are racial or ethnic minorities. This negatively affects statistically-valid assessment of the safety, efficacy, and value of new therapeutic agents for multiple segments of our population.
Clinical trials are the vehicle the FDA uses to bring new drugs to market safely. Patient participation is crucial to the successful completion of a trial, yet the barriers to trial participation – primarily ancillary costs – lie squarely on the shoulders of patients. Over the past 15 years, Lazarex has developed successful programs to address and remove these barriers. Currently, Lazarex stands alone in offering a complete solution to this problem and, while this is a noble undertaking, it is not a sustainable one.
iMPACT
In 2013, Lazarex and the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Care Equity Program joined forces to establish a pilot program focused on removing financial barriers to clinical trial participation for cancer patients and improving access to cancer clinical trials for under-served populations. Based on the success, we have greatly expanded the pilot into a nationwide effort – IMPACT – IMproving Patient Access to Cancer Clinical Trials. IMPACT brings together the significant resources of industry stakeholders: academia, medicine, policy makers, industry, public health, and community organizations nationwide.
The goal of the Lazarex IMPACT program is to generate a sustainable proof of concept action plan to transform the status quo of clinical trial recruitment, enrollment, retention, minority participation, completion, and translational science – providing equitable and timely access to cancer discovery for all patients. Our hopis that this will allow cancer drugs to get to market faster and to finish oncology clinical trials on time and on budget.
The IMPACT program facilitates a coordinated effort amongst these stakeholders to create a replicable, “boots on the ground” action plan, bringing significant and sustainable change to the status quo of clinical trial recruitment, retention, minority participation, completion, and translational science – providing equitable and timely patient access to cancer discovery.
Cancer Wellness HUB
The Lazarex Cancer Wellness HUB aspires to change the way communities think about cancer, the actions they take that reduce cancer burden and achieve health equity. Lazarex Cancer Wellness HUBs provide “safe spaces” for at-risk community members to talk about health concerns in relation to cancer and explore options from prevention through treatment and clinical trials. The HUB is imbedded within the community to manage the cancer journey and provide the greatest opportunity for a successful result.
The Lazarex Cancer Wellness HUB(s) is a place-based and culturally appropriate safe space for community residents to talk about and address their health concerns across the continuum of cancer care. It is our goal to make the HUB a replicable model to improve cancer and overall health outcomes.
There are currently 3 HUBs established in Philadelphia (PA), Los Angeles (CA), and the East Bay (CA). Learn more about the model for the CWH program.
History
Dana Dornsife first became involved in cancer patient advocacy in 2003 when her brother-in-law, Mike Miller, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Mike and his wife Erin had three children, the youngest of whom was only four years old. Dana searched for options for Mike that would give their family some additional time together. She found a clinical trial for Mike. He responded well and lived long enough to help his sons prepare for their future and for his daughter to remember him.
In 2006, Dana founded Lazarex Cancer Foundation. Since then, Lazarex has fought tirelessly for patient advocacy and the expansion of available resources on behalf of those cancer patients who have been told they have run out of medical options and there is no hope left.
We have watched pain-ridden, emaciated souls
return to fulfilled lives
with family, friends, passion and love.
There are people with us today
who would not be here
without our efforts because …
hope breeds possibility.
– Dana Dornsife
Meet our VIPs (Very Important Patients)
So many dreams at first seem impossible,
then they seem improbable,
and then,
when we summon the will,
they soon become inevitable.
– Christopher Reeve
Why Lazarex? What Makes Us Unique?
Lazarex is the only 501(c)(3) public charity that does what we do. We focus on helping patients with all types of cancer, of all ages, from all walks of life. We promote early stage diagnosis to increase survival, especially for the medically -underserved. We remove the barriers to clinical trial participation for advanced stage patients seeking life through FDA clinical trials.
For these patients, Lazarex is literally their last line of defense.
Non-Discrimination Policy: Patient Services:
Lazarex Cancer Foundation is committed to the principles of equal access to services. Lazarex prohibits discrimination against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender or gender expression, marital, familial, or parental status, religion, genetic information, military status, political beliefs, or any other status protected under local, state, or federal law, in connection with its programs and activities. This policy extends to all personnel decisions, terms and conditions of employment, vendor contracts, and the provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and patients.
LCF Statement on Diversity and Racial Equity
The escalating climate of intolerance and racism toward the Black community, highlighted by the very public and unjustified killing of George Floyd and many others has catalyzed people of all colors worldwide to address the undeniable deep roots of racism in our society. Many of us are getting an education like no other, leaving no doubt that racial injustice is not a black or brown problem. It is a problem that belongs to all of us.
Until we are all free, we are
none of us free.
– Emma Lazarus
At Lazarex Cancer Foundation, we continue our work to address systemic racism in the healthcare system by highlighting the barriers that perpetuate it and working with stakeholders to dismantle them. We acknowledge that racial equity is not yet a reality. It is ingrained in our mission to fight for equitable access to quality cancer healthcare for all people, with a focus on minorities and the medically-underserved. We stand in support of the Black community and will continue to do our part to fight for racial justice.
While cancer does not discriminate, Black, Asian, Latinx, Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans face disproportionately higher rates of mortality from cancers that could be survived when diagnosed and treated early. But racism, poverty, low wages, language, cultural barriers, and lack of access to good nutrition are barriers to wellness, cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. This is fundamentally and morally wrong.
Lazarex Cancer Foundation will remain steadfast to our mission to help cancer patients participate in FDA therapeutic clinical trials and undergo a thoughtful, thorough self-examination to identify where we can do more to create an environment of equity within our organization, our relationships, and the services we provide. We will hold ourselves accountable and look forward to sharing our findings and plan with you.
ACCEPTS VIRTUAL CLIENTS
Lazarex Cancer Foundation
P.O. BOX 741
Danville, CA 94526
Toll-free: 877-866-9523
Office: 925-820-4517
Fax: 925-552-7305
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