Author: The Max Foundation

16 December 2017 By The Max Foundation In 20th Anniversary Access to Treatment and Support Global

Access to Treatment is Access to Life: A Message From Princess Dina

As part of our 20th Anniversary Celebration on October 19th, The Max Foundation was honored to have Princess Dina, President-elect of the Union of International Cancer Control, reflect on our global efforts over the last two decades. We share her letter here with gratitude and humility. “Lack of access to treatment” is a five-word sentence that is bandied about a lot in the global advocacy world. The academic-style labeling of the term at times numbs us from the real horror on the ground from what “lack of access to treatment” actually looks like. Not The Max Foundation. The Max Foundation understood that when a...

15 December 2016 By The Max Foundation In Education and Training South Asia

Researching CML Patients in India

A new study in Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health features the Glivec®Patient Assistance Program (GIPAP) and reveals that "chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) is diagnosed at an earlier age in poorer populations than in more affluent populations." The study focused on India's CML population to investigate other possible contributors to early age at onset. The team of authors include our very own South Asia Region Head Viji Venkatesh, and Max CEO Pat Garcia-Gonzalez, as well as Paul H. Levine, Kunal Ajmera, Brenna O’Neill, Heather J. Hoffman. The study is only available to the public for a limited time so if you know a physician...

23 November 2016 By The Max Foundation In Announcements USA

Gratitude for Our Global Community

During this Thanksgiving holiday in the US, we take time to reflect and give thanks with family and friends. We extend a most heartfelt thank you to our donors, partners, our global team, and community. Each of you is part of our patients’ journey, and we are thankful for your support and friendship. We look forward to continuing our journey together, and hope you will continue to follow our patients’ journeys in the coming year....

29 October 2016 By The Max Foundation In Asia Pacific Maximize Life Campaign South Asia

Stories of Dignity and Hope: India and Philippines

Cancer survivors like my mom are real heroes, not many people have the courage to look at death in the eye and say CATCH ME IF YOU CAN!...

26 October 2016 By The Max Foundation In Advocacy Africa & Middle East Asia Pacific Maximize Life Campaign

Stories of Dignity and Hope: South Africa and Thailand | Maximize Life Campaign 2016

When Ka came to Thailand for access to treatment, she had the chance to join the MaxSmiles patient group meetings. Ka started to dream about having her own meetings and soon found support from Dr. Mary Cluck, an Australian volunteer working with Cambodian CML patients. Ka stepped up and called the patients one-by-one to invite them to their first patient meeting....

11 October 2016 By The Max Foundation In Advocacy Latin America Maximize Life Campaign

Stories from the Frontlines of Cancer | Maximize Life Campaign 2016

Antonia was three years old when she was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, and 4 years old when she attended her first Maximize Life Campaign event in Nicaragua. Her mother's testimony inspired everyone present, but what was most surprising was the testimony that followed – Antonia’s: “Hello, my name is Antonia, and I am happy to be here!” After getting to know her, every member of Alas de Vida adopted Antonia as their own example to follow. She became The Princess, the little warrior who spreads optimism in the group....

03 February 2016 By The Max Foundation In Advocacy Maximize Life Campaign South Asia

Sharing My Story for World Cancer Day

“CANCER” what comes to your mind as you read this six letter word? The five W’s, who, what, when, where and why comes to our head. In my life, who? Was my father, when? 2004, where? In his blood and why? The million dollar question whose answer we are still searching for....

30 October 2015 By The Max Foundation In Asia Pacific Education and Training Rising Sun

Rising Sun, Part 2: Not Just Another Love Story

People, by nature, are not perfect and sometimes we forget how to love each other well. The dinner at the Rising Sun 2015 meeting prepared by MaxSmiles Thailand, was a reminder to me. Admittedly, I attended the dinner with the intention of eating as much Thai food as I could. Wirat, Thailand Senior MaxStation, reassured me that I would not be disappointed that night. He was totally right; who would’ve thought the dinner would feed my soul....

23 May 2015 By The Max Foundation In Advocacy Education and Training Region South Asia

What is a Mela? More About Leadership Summit 2015

Our Guest Bloggers collaborating on this summit overview are members of The Max Foundation team based in India who led and participated in the Friends of Max 2015 Leadership Summit. They include Shilpi Sirohi Singh, Ashika Naik, Ameya Surve, and Priyanka Kandalgaokar. In India, the word "Mela" means 'gathering' or 'to meet' or a 'fair'. India is a land of fairs and festivals – every month there are festivals held throughout the different regions of India....

22 May 2015 By The Max Foundation In Education and Training Region South Asia

Learning About Leadership from Friends of Max in India

Last month, Friends of Max (FOM), the support group arm of The Max Foundation (Max) in India gathered for their second Leadership Summit in Hyderabad. Friends of Max is a charitable trust registered in India comprised of individuals impacted directly and indirectly by chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). More than 120 City Chapter leaders and the whole team from The Max Foundation in India attended the meeting on 18th and 19th April 2015. This event rallied advocates and practitioners who serve and support people living with cancer in India. It was a full couple of days!...