The narrow goal of the R. A. Bloch Cancer Foundation is limited to projects that will help people diagnosed with cancer have the best chance of beating it as easily as possible. Many other facets could be more important such as making people immune to cancer, eliminating the cause of cancer or finding a cure. However, these fields are best left to professionals, and our resources are devoted exclusively to projects in our area.

All services of the Foundation are free, and no contributions of cash are ever solicited. Contributions are accepted so that the donor may be assured that all their funds are going to help cancer patients.

The Cancer Hot Line consists of a group of individuals who have had cancer who are available to talk with newly diagnosed cancer patients, promptly upon diagnosis. We do not make a prognosis or give medical advice. We talk strictly from personal experience, emphasizing prompt treatment, proper treatment, thorough treatment and a positive mental attitude.

Psychologically, we assist the cancer patient over the initial shock and fear and in understanding that death and cancer are not synonymous. The patient realizes that because he is talking with someone who has had a similar cancer, it is possible for him to overcome it. However, we provide more than psychological help.

We recommend the patient consult with a qualified physician, such as an oncologist. Our volunteers are free to recommend any physician they personally like. We further recommend a qualified second opinion because we know how serious cancer is. We urge them to find a qualified doctor in whom they have faith and who says he can successfully treat them. If this doctor cannot be found, we try to get them to the institution that is doing the most successful work on their type of cancer.

Because we have been there with a similar type of cancer, we can explain in lay terms what the treatments their doctor recommends are like and how they affected us. We can give practical advice on what we did to help ourselves. We try to take the fear of the unknown out of cancer treatments. We attempt to get the patient in control of their life and to be more of a partner with their doctor.

We believe we improve the quality of life for every patient and extend the quantity of life for many. Our sole goal is to give the next person getting cancer the best chance of beating it.

Cancer is the most curable of all chronic diseases. There are treatments for every type of cancer. It is vital to treat cancer promptly, properly and thoroughly because often there is no second chance. The important factor is for the patient to be able to make an informed, correct decision about how best to be treated for their own particular problem.

Most cancers are treatable by several different modalities separately and often best treated in combination. By talking to one physician only, the patient may receive or interpret a biased opinion. Most physicians favor their own modality because they are most familiar with it, they have faith in what they do personally or they want credit for treating the patient. Possibly another modality actually has better potential for that particular patient in the hands of the proper specialist.

Our goal is to get major medical institutions in every city to offer this multidisciplinary second opinion.

Our end goal is to see that every newly diagnosed cancer patient must, by law or rule of professional practice, receive a qualified second opinion prior to any treatment or no treatment. We believe that this could save more lives today with the information we currently have than anything else - including eliminating tobacco.

Cancer is a disease that is not generally openly discussed. Many people are unaware of the tremendous strides made in successful treatments and reducing side effects. When they are diagnosed, they assume it will eventually kill them. They have heard the stories of horrible treatments, so they will not try their utmost to fight their disease. They will subconsciously give in to it and die.

The Rally is held annually the first Sunday in June. It originated in 1986 in Kansas City and today is held in over 700 communities in the U.S.and 15 countries world wide. The rallies are fun for the thousands of survivors and their supporters who attend. But more important, the media coverage of the event graphically displays to all who see it, both diagnosed and yet to be diagnosed, that death and cancer are not synonymous. The Rally helps the spirits of those who are fighting the disease and instills the will to fight to those who will be diagnosed with cancer in the future.

There are three factors present in each Park. First is a positive mental attitude walk with 14 bronze plaques, four inspirational and 10 instructional. Second is a sculpture of eight life-size bronze figures passing through a maze representing cancer treatment. The five before the maze show fear, hope and determination in their faces while the three after are laughing and happy, representing successful treatment. Third is a "Road to Recovery" consisting of seven plaques explaining what cancer is and basic actions to successfully overcome the disease.

The Foundation provides money for the construction of the Park including funding perpetual maintenance. Plans are to build a Park in every city over 1 million metropolitan population in the U.S. and Canada. Each Park is individually designed to complement the surrounding area.

Books

These three books by Richard and Annette Bloch are inspirational and motivational as well as being a source of information for cancer patients and their supporters.

Cancer...there’s hope is the story of Richard and Annette’s fight against his "terminal" lung cancer. It is written, not to tell a story, but to show others what they can do to battle this disease. It can be read in a little over an hour and will explain not only to the patient but also to their friends and relatives about the feelings and emotions involved in this disease.

Fighting Cancer is a step-by-step guide for cancer patients to help themselves fight the disease with a forward by Dr. Vincent DeVita, Jr., former director of the National Cancer Institute, it explains additional things a patient can do to help the quality of their life and possibly enhance the chance of their recovery. The last chapter has a checklist of over 50 points to insure the patient is doing everything they can to help themselves.

Guide for Cancer Supporters shows friends or relatives what they can do to truly help a cancer patient. It’s divided between the primary supporter and a casual acquaintance, each with a checklist to be sure they're doing everything properly.

The three books are given out in most comprehensive cancer centers and are available in many public libraries. The books are available free by calling the Cancer Hot Line 1-800-433-0464.

The R. A. Bloch Cancer Foundation will access this enormous and wonderful resource and give a print out of the latest information to take to discuss with their physician. This treatment information is also readily available on the Internet at www.cancer.gov or 1-800-4-CANCER. The Foundation’s continuing role is to aid the increased use of PDQ and maximize its value.

Many individuals on the surface appear or declare they are positive. However, the purpose of this quiz is to get to their subconscious feelings to be certain it is not a facade and that they are being totally honest with themselves.

The quiz is available in the book, Fighting Cancer or from the Cancer Hot Line at 1-800-433-0464 or 816-854-5050.

People talk about their cholesterol, their blood pressure, pulse or weight. They do not talk about breast or testicle self-examinations, hemocult tests, etc. Cancer is that unspoken word, that undiscussed disease, so the myths and fables of the past hang on. The horrors of primitive treatments and the astronomical failure rates of the past live to haunt present patients. By speaking openly about cancer in the media as well as person public appearances, the public is able to learn that it is a disease that might be avoided, probably managed and possibly beaten. There is no type of cancer for which there are no treatments. There is no type of cancer from which some people have not been cured.

Continuously getting this message to the people is one of the programs of the R. A. Bloch Cancer Foundation. The following are programs that you can initiate in your area.

Volunteers affix stickers to the doors of women's toilets in all public buildings such as office buildings, restaurants, stadiums, theaters, etc., explaining how to perform BSE. These contact stickers attack all three areas, giving the benefits of finding the disease as early as possible when it’s easiest to treat, reminding women to do it and showing them in three steps how to do it.  It costs absolutely nothing and can only help women.