NEWS

Foundation Celebrates 20th Anniversary

The Richard A. Bloch Cancer Foundation, Kansas City, Mo., recognized its 20th anniversary Aug. 16 with a report of its accomplishments. Among them:

It established a hot line that allows newly diagnosed cancer patients to speak with an unpaid volunteer who has survived their type of cancer. About 500 volunteers have spoken to more than 100,000 new cancer patients since 1980. The number is 1-800-433-0464.

It created a "second opinion" panel in Kansas City, now replicated in 130 institutions nationwide, to allow newly diagnosed cancer patients to meet simulataneously with a medical oncologist, a radiation oncologist, and a surgeon to get a multidisciplinary recommendation for treatment.

It wrote, published, and distributed without charge three books to help cancer patients and their supporters.

It started in 1985 a Cancer Survivors Rally in Kansas City. The event later became National Cancer Survivors Day, now held each year the first Sunday in June in more than 700 U.S. cities.

Expanding on the rally’s demonstration that quality of life is possible after a cancer diagnosis, the foundation is building cancer survivor parks in U.S. cities to provide patients with hope and direction. Fifteen parks are open; more are planned.

The Bloch Foundation developed a tool for clergy to use in counseling new cancer patients. The tool is now going into distribution.

The foundation was started and is funded by Richard A. Bloch, a founder of H & R Block, the tax-return preparation company.



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Richard A. Bloch

 



             
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