My Nonprofit Reviews

Carcinoid is such an orphan disease that not many patients nor their physicians know much about it. As a result, diagnosis is always delayed for years. Worst of all, once the diagnosis is made, the treatment offered by the treating physician is often outdated and passive. For years, the fight for carcinoid has been uncoordinated, disorganized, dysfunctional and extremely ineffective. Patients suffered from lack of correct information or receiving outdated wrong information. Physicians who are interested and specializes in the field also suffered due to the lack of forum to express and educate patients or each other. Maryann, Bob and the whole family has made such a dramatic improvement for patients and carcinoid specialists as a whole by different means through the nonprofit organization CCAN, which they established and are absolutely devoted to. Throughout the years, CAAN has provided patients with support, information, and guidance by a 24/7 phone consoling, printed teaching material, and educational videos on an individual bases. On a grand scale, CCAN organizes regional and national patient conferences by gathering leading experts in the field to provide patients with an in-depth overview of their disease and the available updated treatments. In addition to help patients, CCAN also supports physicians who are interested in this orphan disease with funding for research and educational process. More importantly, they are always there for physicians who are interested and devoted to carcinoid treatment. MaryAnn, Bob and their family has been the most important ally’s for us who are committed to the tough fight against this intriguing disease. CCAN has an undeniable contribution of the progress made in the fight against carcinoid in this country and North America! The Wahmann’s family entitled the recognitions for their efforts/contribution and CCAN deserves all the financial support and funding from our generous general public. Yi-Zarn Wang DDS., PC., MD., FACS. Professor of Surgery, LSUHSC-New Orleans.