Working together- a dream for Collaborative Science

[Guest guest]

Imagine if you will, real time, interdisciplinary sharing of medical and

scientific concepts relating to all cancers. Radical? probably but ......

The web has evolved into a Cancer patients go to or we would not be reading this

.. As this happened it was inevitable that eventually people would wish that

scientists, patients and doctors begin to share the maze of information. Much

is being shared now but the 'sharing' doesn't seem to be crossing useful

boarders.

Barriers have to give way in order for this to happen. Those who advocate this

have, perhaps without knowing it, become part of a movement that is being called

Collaborative Science. a Melanoma patient has started the ball rolling and

created a 'place' for this to take place. A place with real time professional,

editorial review,

http://cancercommons.org/Commons/Home.html

All of what we are learning is pointing to Cancer being a 'molecular' disease

process, rather than an 'organ' based disease. The hope of those who are

launching this app is that this concept will lead to world wide cooperation,

shared knowledge and better options for patients. We know that certain cancers

are more likely to evolve into specific 'other' places, and certain treatments

are riskier for some patients. But, what we 'know' has to be tested and

'proven' which take years. With a disease process which can be almost

monogrammed to an individual, unless a patient fits exactly, they may be out of

luck or be offered 'the next best' option.

My inner cynic tells me this can't happen. But imagine if you will, for

example,finally being able to go to a doctor for a 'secondary' cancer suspicion

and having him/her check a hand held device to see if anyone in the world has

seen what he's seeing, NOW,,, not at a conference three years from now when a

formal study confirms that what he guessed was real? If that doctor is

courageous, and his patient willing he may reach out across the web and act on

it, if not his idea and his patient may expire. Such interdisciplinary

cooperation already exists in some few institutions, but far too few.

Those interested in exploring, following, and or participating in this can go to

the web link above. I can dream can't I?

call me a dreamer... beth fillman

[Guest guest]

I saw this website yesterday as well. It appears that the site and the app they

are releasing tomorrow are solely for Melanoma so far. Any word as to CLL/SLL

app on the horizon?

Brett

On Jan 17, 2011, at 7:02 AM, bethfillman wrote:

<snipped>

> http://cancercommons.org/Commons/Home.html

<snipped>

> My inner cynic tells me this can't happen. But imagine if you will, for

example,finally being able to go to a doctor for a 'secondary' cancer suspicion

and having him/her check a hand held device to see if anyone in the world has

seen what he's seeing, NOW,,, not at a conference three years from now when a

formal study confirms that what he guessed was real? If that doctor is

courageous, and his patient willing he may reach out across the web and act on

it, if not his idea and his patient may expire. Such interdisciplinary

cooperation already exists in some few institutions, but far too few.

<snipped>