LOS
ANGELES, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Helping
all patients facing cancer, particularly those who do not have the
resources or ability to pilot their way through the tremendous
clinical and administrative burdens of a cancer journey, is at the
heart of The Ronnie Lippin Cancer Support and Navigation Project.
In partnership with Tower Cancer Research Foundation, this
lifesaving initiative is now moving forward at Cedars Sinai Medical
Center in Los Angeles.
A groundbreaking project that will provide a host of essential
non-clinical cancer navigation and coordination services that
eliminate obstacles to timely diagnosis and treatment of cancer,
the goal of the program is to improve cancer-related outcomes for
underserved cancer patients. The project will focus on reducing
barriers for underrepresented sexual, gender, financial, racial,
and ethnic minority community members, who are either at risk of
being diagnosed with cancer, or patients who have already been
diagnosed with cancer, and their loved ones. Cancer navigators will
offer tailored science-based cancer information, education,
navigation, support resources, and access to care.
"One of the most agonizing times in my life was when Ronnie, my
wife, was diagnosed with cancer," Dick
Lippin, Trustee of The Lippin Family Trust stated. "There
was so much I did not know about dealing with cancer and I realized
if I felt this way so many others must be experiencing it as well.
When Ronnie passed, I had the good fortune of being introduced to
Tower Cancer Research Foundation and now the project we envisioned
will be implemented by one of the country's finest medical
institutions, Cedars Sinai Medical Center. Our goal is to help as
many people as possible, lacking the resources and capabilities,
who now can use this program as a guiding hand through extremely
challenging times."
The critical importance of services to help patients and their
families navigate health care treatments for cancer was recently
underscored via the announcement earlier this year from President
Biden and First Lady Jill Biden that
they have prioritized supportive services for people who are
touched by cancer, including through championing the importance of
patient navigation services.
Funded by Tower Cancer Research Foundation through a grant from
The Lippin Family Trust, The Ronnie Lippin Cancer Support and
Navigation Project at Cedars strives to be easily accessible and
help a host of community members who are underserved based on a
variety of factors. These may include race, ethnic background,
sexual and gender minority, legal status, education level, faith or
belief system, socioeconomic group, age, physical barriers,
literacy and late-stage cancer. In particular, the project will
target geographic areas and groups that experience higher incidence
of late stage diagnosis, including the Latinx, LGBTQ+, Korean,
Filipino, Black and immigrant communities. Project cancer
navigators, including a Latinx navigator and a LGBTQ+
navigator, will focus on assisting patients and their families at
any stage along the cancer continuum, from screening, diagnosis,
treatment, post-treatment and survivorship, all the way to end of
life care.
"I am so thankful to Dick Lippin,
and the Lippin Family Trust, for partnering with Tower Cancer to
improve cancer-related outcomes for underserved cancer patients at
Cedars. Naming the program after Ronnie
Lippin, a trailblazing figure in the music industry, adds a
beautiful layer of meaning to the initiative," added Christopher Clinton Conway, CEO of Tower Cancer
Research Foundation.
Examples of services this project will provide include
conducting assessments of the patient and/or caregiver needs,
in-language aid and assistance with medical appointments,
information and test results, and providing resources such as
mental health support and making referrals to address mental health
issues. In addition, navigators will help identify and connect
patients to internal and external resources such as support groups
and survivorship resources, government agencies and nonprofit
organizations that may provide additional resources, and end of
life care and support for diagnosed patients and loved ones.
Ultimately, The Ronnie Lippin Cancer Support and Navigation
Project aims to reduce cancer disparities in our communities
through decreasing barriers to prevention, screening, diagnosis and
treatment in underserved populations. These efforts will hopefully
improve access to cancer care, thereby lessening cancer morbidity
and mortality for people impacted by cancer or at risk of
developing cancer in these communities.
ABOUT TOWER CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION (TOWER
CANCER): Tower Cancer Research Foundation was founded
over 25 years ago, with the goal of independently advancing
groundbreaking research and profoundly supporting people affected
by cancer — as we inch closer to a future free from the burden of
this devastating disease. Inspired by the most promising science,
we fund leading local researchers, making us a launchpad for
additional funding and discoveries here and on the global stage.
Our clinically-grounded patient support programs, hosted by
Magnolia House, and community
partner grants, funded by Tower Cancer, align with the challenges
faced by patients, survivors, and the whole cancer community. We
believe that impact begins here, and it starts with you.
www.towercancer.org
Contact: Rachel Schwartz/PR
AdvantEDGE
Inc.
310.990.2764
378180@email4pr.com
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SOURCE Tower Cancer Research Foundation