My Nonprofit Reviews

There is absolutely no question about whether I would be here now if not for the Oral Cancer Foundation. I would not be. It is now 12 years since my first oral cancer diagnosis and not a single day goes by that I don't feel grateful to OCF for their support, the friendships made and the ongoing help that I know will instantly be there when I need it. That help may come in the form of high quality information with the latest techniques and information on procedures front and center, or it may be a shoulder to cry on in the patient and survivor forum. One never really 'gets over' oral cancer. We live with it every single day - in our speech - in our eating abilities (or inabilities) - in our relationships - and in the long term effects of some of our treatments. Not one day has ever gone by that I could say I was "over" oral cancer, and the Oral Caner Foundation has been there with me for every step of the way. My OCF name is "Pandora". I chose that because Pandora's box ended up with just one thing in it - HOPE. To me that was where I was at when I joined - HOPE. I continue to HOPE - for myself and all oral cancer warriors.

In 2004 I was diagnosed with tongue cancer. This was a disease that NO ONE had ever heard of at the time - myself included. Yes, I was a smoker, and I was always fearful of lung cancer - but Oral Cancer?? Who had ever heard of that. I felt lost. Alone. The Oral Cancer Foundation became my source of information and comfort. There I met the most amazing people who knew of what I spoke.

When I was diagnosed with a recurrence in 2007, not one person on OCF gave me the sad "puppy dog eyes" or exhibited the "oh you poor thing" which went with said puppy dog eyes. They walked with me - helped me to find factual documentation and look at some care which perhaps wasn't the norm at the time. Due to my OCF Family's suggestions, I pushed for a second course of radiation and my Radiaiton Oncologist stretched protocols at the time to offer this.

Because of this double radiation I am here today. I just had my 5 1/2 year CT post treatment for my Second bout of Oral Cancer and I am 9 1/2 years past treatment for my First oral cancer. No question I would not be here without OCF.

While my cancer was likely due to the more traditional (old school) reasons for Oral Cancer - i.e smoking and drinking alcohol, I have come to be educated and extremely concerned about the rising rates of Oral Cancer due to HPV. This type of cancer appears to hit young people hard and it breaks my heart to think that they could have likely been cured - IF they had known to seek early detection; IF they had known Oral Cancer even existed.

OCF has work to do and it diligently doing anything and everything it can to spread the word. In order to do this - and save many young lives - they need our support.

The Oral Cancer Foundation is THE BEST Non Profit I have ever heard of. No questions about that.

Thank you OCF for my Life. Thanks to you, I fully expect to see my 60th Birthday in March 2014 :)

Donna Butcher

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As an oral cancer patient (Stave IV twice) I have benefitted greatly from the information provided by the Oral Cancer Foundation. Without them, I would not have sought out a second course of radiation and as a result I would not be here today writing this review.

The Survivor - Patient Forum is second to none. The understanding, encouragement, genuine concern and care that I received from the uniquely selfless members of the OCF Forum is beyond anything anyone could hope for from an online forum. Posts and responses are timely, candid, innovative, helpful and occasionally humour. We truly have become the OCF Family and welcome all. I pray that I have able to help another patient who has reached out. We all do what we can and together we are awesome.

Brian Hill, Founder, once stated that while the Foundation requires increasing funding to meet its goals, he would rather have 100 one dollar donations with each of those 100 people learning about oral cancer - than having one person donate $100 - even if the other 99 might also donate. He was trying to clearly show how important the issue of spreading awareness is to the Foundation. If each one teaches one - those 100 people who had learned about oral cancer would grow exponentially and perhaps one day knowledge of this cancer and its early warning symptoms would be as common as the symptoms of the common cold. Questions like "You can GET cancer on your tongue?? will be as outdated as first 'suitcase' cell phones.

I don't remember the details of the day that I became a member of the Oral Cancer Foundation, but I do know it was one of the luckiest days of my life.

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I would not be alive today without this Organizaiton. Through them, their fabulous knowledge of treatment options, I pressed for and received a second course of radiation with my 2nd cancer diagnosis. Had I just accepted anything else, I would not be here today. The awareness work this Foundation does is AMAZING. COMPLETELY AMAZING. They are almost single handedly spreading the word about Oral Cancer. To show how devoted this organization is to AWARENESS, I was once told that even if I didn't raise a cent for them - if my fundraising efforts included a message to make sure people get checked for oral cancer - whether they donate or not - they would be happy. The very fact that the word had spread was enough for them. DID I SAY AMAZING??

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