When I was diagnosed with a NeuroEndocrine tumor in my lungs four years ago, like everyone else, my husband and I had never even heard of this rare cancer. We felt so lost, and alone. Where were the pink ribbons and races for family & friends to show their support, for us to find support and most importantly – accurate information to keep me ALIVE?
I had been given less than 30 days to live – my children were only 5 and 11 years old! My husband and I were on a deserted island and the water was rising quickly — then an amazing woman named Maryann Wahmann entered my life – a NET cancer patient herself and the founder/president of NCAN. She spent an HOUR on the phone with me, teaching me about my disease, telling me where I could find specialists who knew how to treat me, assuring me that we were not alone, and there WERE things I could do! The phone call that started in hopeless tears finished in laughter and tears of joy, purpose and relief.
Within days, I received a huge packet of information and even zebra print advocacy bracelets (don’t underestimate how much these mean). My husband and I cried and clutched that information packet like the life-saving treasure it was. NCAN asked for nothing, and gave me everything.
Within a year of my diagnosis, not only was I ALIVE and doing great, I had also started a support group for other lung NET (aka Lungnoid) patients and their caretakers (Lovable Lungnoids). Maryann and NCAN partnered with NET specialist Dr. Eric Liu, and Lovable Lungnoids, and gave us the worlds first lungnoid conference! NCAN did all the work, got all the funding, hosted an incredible event and allowed me to have my support group’s name be part of it all. They flew world NET experts in from Sweden (!!!) and arranged for 125 patients to come together for an incredible weekend of support, information and encouragement like never before in history. We got to see not one but TWO NET specialists together in clinic visits in the days before the conference. MANY lives were saved with that one week, and without NCAN, none of it would have been possible. To top it off, NCAN was able to donate 10k to NET cure research as part of our gathering. The cost to attendees? $20 including a delicious healthy breakfast ~and~ lunch. Incredible.
Heartfelt thanks, Maryann, Bob, Tricia, Tom and everyone at NCAN for all you do and for being the first organization to recognize and help the lungnoid community (now 1500 members strong). You’re the best! — Kym O., Patient