More Than a Second Opinion: The GCS Project and InfiniteMD's Expert Access Program has Helped Individuals Navigate Cancer Treatment Centers and Available Clinical Trials
The nonprofit's goal of connecting women affected by gynecological carcinosarcoma to Dr. Michael Birrer, a leading researcher and specialist, has yielded more than advice.
BOSTON, August 8, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Expert Access program was launched by The GCS Project and InfiniteMD in March of this year to support the nonprofit's mission of helping women diagnosed with gynecological carcinosarcoma (GCS), a rare cancer also known as malignant mixed Müllerian tumor (MMMT), access expert second opinions.
The GCS Project's lead researcher and internationally recognized expert consultant, Dr. Michael Birrer, of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, is at the center of this virtual second opinion program.
With his deep knowledge of regional treatment centers, their staff, and researchers in his field conducting clinical trials, Birrer has been able to assist women and their caregivers in navigating their options — beyond the review of their individual cases — where he believes it would help. In some instances, this has included referrals to other local physicians he has had professional experience with and connecting women with information on upcoming clinical trials.
"As Diane Redington, founder of The GCS Project, searched for information and resources to understand and manage her disease, she found very little that was helpful or hopeful," said Roy Buchta, Redington's husband and Treasurer of The GCS Project. "As a nurse practitioner, she knew her outcome was driven by the quality of her care team. Diane also believed initiating research to treat and cure this rare gynecologic cancer may be the key to solving a variety of ovarian, uterine, and fallopian tube cancers. In my wife's words, 'We can't stand still.' Diane would be proud to know that Dr. Birrer and InfiniteMD have created a partnership to offer women this virtual second opinion program."
In the last several months, women from across the U.S., as well as in Canada, South Africa, and Namibia, have participated in the Expert Access program. Anyone with a diagnosis of gynecological carcinosarcoma is invited to request a consultation with Dr. Birrer. Visit The GCS Project for more information.
About The GCS Project
The purpose of The GCS Project is to provide help and hope for women with gynecological carcinosarcoma by providing educational information to patients, families and clinicians, offering patient advocacy, and supporting innovative research by fostering collaborations among scientists, clinicians and families. The GCS Project is dedicated to finding a cure for gynecological carcinosarcoma (aka MMMT), providing current scientifically valid information, and offering a place for the community impacted by this cancer to share stories and hope.
Contact:
Karen Metzinger
Chair of Communications
Karen.Metzinger(at)gmail(dot)com
About InfiniteMD
InfiniteMD is a virtual expert opinion and health navigation leader that provides consumers from around the world direct access to the best physicians in the United States via remote video and written consultations using its proprietary platform. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, InfiniteMD works with physicians from institutions including Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals and other clinical centers of excellence that rank within the Top 20 Hospitals, per U.S. News and World Report. Cornerstones of InfiniteMD's service are its international capabilities, which include the collection and translation of medical records in any language for our physician network, as well as providing medically trained interpreters during live video consultations.
Contact:
Amanda Wood
VP, Marketing and Communications
(617) 531-9060
Amanda.Wood(at)InfiniteMD(dot)com
SOURCE InfiniteMD
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