About

“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”
- Helen Keller

For MyCancerHaven’s founders, the community draws inspiration from this idea and has been created as a haven— a place of refuge—for both patients and healthcare professionals.

Founded by Dr Ravi Vij MD MBA and his wife Dr Kiran Vij MD, the community was built to provide solutions to unmet needs they’ve experienced in both their personal and professional journeys.

MyCancerHaven was
created to be more than  
a resource—it’s a trusted
anchor for patients with
cancer and the physicians
and healthcare professionals
who care for them.

Dr. Vij has worked closely with cancer patients, experts, and researchers from top academic institutions and throughout the industry to improve patient outcomes during his 20-year career as an oncologist at Washington University School of Medicine, a leading academic center. Through these professional experiences, he realized that both cancer patients and healthcare professionals face significant challenges.

In 1988, his mother was diagnosed with metastatic ovarian cancer and died within a month of diagnosis. As a caregiver, he struggled to find reliable information and access to cancer experts. Thirty-five years later as an oncologist, he and his wife observed that despite a revolution in information technology and telecommunication, little had changed. People with cancer and their caregivers wish to be active participants in their healthcare and are among the most active seekers of information on healthcare. Yet they still struggle to find reliable information and support. People with cancer usually begin their quest for information by using online search engines, which provide tens of thousands of results from thousands of websites. Overwhelmed by the often-contradictory information they find, it’s then difficult to reconcile what it means or how it relates to their specific situation.

Additionally, many patients with cancer still find it challenging to identify and connect with healthcare professionals with expertise in their specific type of cancer. Many feel uncomfortable voicing their opinions, or are not sure how to be active participants in their care– this pushes them to utilize social media to interact with other patients and find answers to their questions. But many social networks lack healthcare expert participation to provide proper guidance. Several patients also find it hard to learn about educational and research initiatives seeking patient participation.

Dr Vij also saw that at the other end of the spectrum, cancer experts and organizations also still find it difficult to disseminate information about educational and research initiatives to a broad audience of patients and get the patient perspective about their care. Additionally, students and the next generation of cancer professionals need reliable sources to turn to that help further their knowledge.

The concept of MyCancerHaven was born out of his belief that the solution was to harness the power of information technology to develop an online community curated and moderated by experts with a comprehensive set of resources that would make it possible for patients with cancer and health care professionals to connect, exchange information and collaborate. It was to bridge these gaps that Drs. Ravi and Kiran Vij established MyCancerHaven, a 501(c) not-for-profit organization, to create this first-of-its-kind community and trusted source.

“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”
- Helen Keller

MyCancerHaven was created to be more than   a resource—it’s a trusted anchor for patients with cancer and the physicians and healthcare professionals who care for them.

About Dr. Ravi Vij MD MBA

Dr Ravi Vij serves as MyCancerHaven’s Chief Medical Officer. Dr Vij received his medical degree from the University of Delhi (India). He completed his Residency in Internal Medicine at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL (USA) and Fellowship in Medical Oncology/Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation at Washington University School of Medicine. He thereafter completed a MBA in Healthcare from George Washington University in Washington, DC.  Dr Vij has spent his entire career in academic medicine and rose through the ranks to become a Professor at Washington University School of Medicine, one of the leading medical centers in the United States. In addition to having a busy clinical practice, Dr Vij has been closely involved with the education of medical trainees and clinical research in cancer playing a pivotal role in the development of several novel therapies for cancer. He has authored over 800 scientific publications listed by Google Scholar and over 24k citations of his work.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What does MyCancerHaven do?

MyCancerHaven is a trusted, expert-led online community for patients with blood cancers and their families, physicians, healthcare professionals, health organizations, and others to find reliable information tailored by cancer-type. We provide unprecedented access to cancer experts and specialized educational resources to positively impact patients’ live and, ultimately, improve cancer care. More specifically, we provide:
·  Reputable education resources that are vetted by cancer experts
·  Opportunity for patients and healthcare professionals to exchange information and ask questions of one another.
·  A supportive community moderated by cancer experts

Which blood cancers does MyCancerHaven provide information, support, and resources for?

MyCancerHaven provides you with unparalleled access to leading cancer experts and resources by blood cancer type including Amyliodosis, Leukemia, Lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma, Myelodysplastic Syndrome, and Myelofibrosis.

Do I need to join MyCancerHaven to access the community boards and information from experts?

Yes, joining for free is required to become a member of MyCancerHaven’s community. Once a member, you’ll have access to all information and resources we offer, including the community boards and ability to share information with other members, and much more.

Who can join MyCancerHaven?

Patients with cancer and their family members, caregivers, physicians, healthcare professionals, representatives from healthcare organizations, researchers, and anyone interested in learning more about blood cancers in the U.S. can join.

Is there a cost to use MyCancerHaven?

No, joining MyCancerHaven is free of charge. Our community is currently supported by donations and partner organizations.

How do you join MyCancerHaven?

Joining is easy! Simple go to the “Join” section of this website, which can be found in on our website’s top navigation bar.

Can people outside of the U.S. join MyCancerHaven?

Currently, joining MyCancerHaven is limited to residents of the United States and India. We anticipate that membership in our community will be available to individuals living in other countries in the future.

Is my personal information secure using MyCancerHaven?

Your information is secured at leading data centers and backed up through redundancy systems.

Is MyCancerHaven HIPAA compliant?

Yes, information members of MyCancerHaven share is HIPAA compliant, enabling communication between patients and healthcare providers.

How do I contact MyCancerHaven?

Simply go to the ‘Contact Us’ section of this page, which is also accessible via our website’s top navigation bar.

How do I provide feedback or suggestions to MyCancerHaven?

After logging in, go to the "MCH Dropbox" drop-box group to leave your feedback or suggestion.

Does MyCancerHaven offer financial assistance?

We do not offer financial assistance. But we do have information on organizations that offer financial assistance in the MyNavigator section of the community.

Is MyCancerHaven a nonprofit organization?

MyCancerHaven is a 501(c) not-for-profit organization registered in the United States.

How can I donate to MyCancerHaven?

It’s easy to donate. Simply go to the ‘Donate’ page that is accessible via our website’s top navigation bar or the bottom of the site’s webpage.

Is my donation to MyCancerHaven tax deductible?

Donations made to MyCancerHaven are generally tax deductible for Members in the United States. We recommend checking with your accountant or tax advisor about your specific situation.

How do I learn more about navigating the MyCancerHaven community?

Can learn more by going to our navigation information here. Log in.

How do I cancel my account?

You can cancel your account by logging in and going to your profile page.

Didn’t Find Your Question Answered?

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Have a question on navigating our community? Log in and ask us by submitting a question from the ‘Connect’ tab from the left-hand navigation bar. Or, contact us here.