Cancer Commons

Home
United States
Palo Alto, CA
Cancer Commons

Nonprofit empowering advanced cancer patients with information they need for best-possible outcomes.

Our Founder:

Marty Tenenbaum is a renowned computer scientist and cancer warrior. After surviving stage IV melanoma, he set out to create a ‘commons’ to ensure that all cancer patients are treated according to the latest scientific and clinical knowledge. The information on or available through Cancer Commons' page is intended for educational purposes only. Cancer Commons does not represent or guarantee that information on or available through its page is applicable to any specific patient’s care or treatment. The educational content on or available through Cancer Commons' page does not constitute medical advice from a physician and is not to be used as a substitute for treatment or advice from a practicing physician or other healthcare provider. Cancer Commons recommends users consult their physician or healthcare provider regarding any questions about whether the information on or available through Cancer Commons' page might apply to their individual treatment or care.

09/26/2025

Here’s the latest from our Curious Dr. George! Read “How Would a Mayo Clinic Oncologist Manage His Own Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia?” here: bit.ly/CCCDGLitzow

When facing a frightening new cancer diagnosis, some people ask their doctors, “What would you do if you were me?” Here, our Curious Dr. George asks leukemia expert Mark R. Litzow, MD, how he would handle his own hypothetical cancer case. Dr. Litzow is Professor Emeritus in the Division of Hematology at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.

09/05/2025

DO YOU HAVE YOUR SIMULCAST TICKET? | Dr. George Lundberg, Cancer Commons Editor in Chief, hosts his 15th Annual Lundberg Institute Lecture, highlighting 15 years of Cancer Commons and our unique approach to helping cancer patients. Details and Registration: bit.ly/CCLundberg15th

The lecture will take place September 8 at 5:30pm PDT at Commonwealth Club World Affairs in San Francisco, with simultaneous online access available (tickets $5).

09/01/2025

YOU'RE INVITED | Dr. George Lundberg, Cancer Commons Editor in Chief, hosts his 15th Annual Lundberg Institute Lecture, highlighting 15 years of Cancer Commons and our unique approach to helping cancer patients.

The lecture will take place September 8 at 5:30pm PDT at Commonwealth Club World Affairs, with options to attend in San Francisco or online.

Details & registration: bit.ly/CCLundberg15th

08/28/2025

Here’s the latest from our Curious Dr. George! Read “New Device from Lungpacer Medical Helps Patients with Advanced Cancer” here: bit.ly/CCCDGLungpacer

People with cancer that affects their lungs may, at some point, need to go on mechanical ventilation to help them breathe. But once they no longer need ventilation, they may struggle to regain the ability to breathe on their own. After watching his son face this challenge, Doug Evans led development of a new treatment that is like a “personal trainer” to help rebuild breathing strength more rapidly. Here, our Curious Dr. George asks Doug, who is president and CEO of Lungpacer Medical, about this approach.

08/08/2025

Here’s the latest from our Curious Dr. George! Read “High-Energy Blue Light Produced by Ultrasound Activates a Promising New Treatment, Sonodynamic Therapy, to Destroy Cancer Cells: An Update” here: bit.ly/CCCDGMarcusUpdate

A perennial challenge in cancer treatment is figuring out how to kill tumor cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. Two years ago, our Curious Dr. George asked Stuart L. Marcus, MD, PhD, founder and Chief Science Officer at SonALAsense, how his company’s light-activated drug treatment addresses this challenge. In this piece, he checks in with Dr. Marcus on the latest developments for this promising approach.

07/30/2025

Here’s the latest from our Curious Dr. George! Read “How Would a Mayo Clinic Oncologist Manage His Own Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia?” here: bit.ly/CCCDGParikh

Cancer patients often ask their doctors, “What would you do if you were me?” Curious Dr. George asks Mayo Clinic oncologist Sameer A. Parikh, MBBS, how he would handle his own diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Dr. Parikh is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Assistant Professor of Oncology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

07/18/2025

Here’s the latest from our Curious Dr. George! Read “Finding the Best Drug for a Specific Cancer: an Update on Travera” here: bit.ly/CCCDGTraveraUpdate

In precision oncology, cancer patients are treated with drugs specifically designed to target distinct features of their tumors. Curious Dr. George recently asked Dennis Watson, Vice President of Business Development at Travera, how the company’s services have evolved to help more patients benefit from this personalized approach.

07/16/2025

The Rare Enough podcast from Head For The Cure (HFTC) features conversations that highlight the strength and stories of the brain tumor community.

In Episode 30, host DJ Stewart—GBM survivor and HFTC Community Outreach Coordinator—welcomes Unsha Bakker, MSN, RN, OCN, CBCN, Brain Cancer Support and Solutions Alliance (BCSSA) Nurse Navigator at Cancer Commons.

Together, they discuss the vital role of nurse navigation in helping patients and families find clarity, support, and individualized care throughout the brain cancer journey.

Watch here on YouTube—bit.ly/CCRareEnoughPodcast30—or listen on your favorite podcast platform!

It's a wonderful way to honor National Glioblastoma Awareness Day!

06/26/2025

Here’s the latest from our Curious Dr. George! Read “How Would a Harvard Oncologist Manage His Own Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia?” here: bit.ly/CCCDGArnason

Cancer patients often ask their doctors, “What would you do if you were me?” Here, our Curious Dr. George asks Harvard oncologist Jon Arnason, MD, how he would handle his own diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

06/17/2025

Here’s the latest from our Curious Dr. George! Read “Brad Power, Cancer Hacker—Redesigning the Patient Experience” here: bit.ly/CCCDGPowerCPL

Brad Power is a cancer survivor, specifically lymphoma, diagnosed in 2018. Since his diagnosis, he has been a particularly engaged patient, advocating for himself to ensure he could make the best possible treatment decisions. Now, through Cancer Patient Lab—an organization he co-founded—he helps other patients do the same. Our Curious Dr. George asks Brad about this work.

05/06/2025

TODAY! You are invited to a free webinar: 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 Tuesday, May 6 at 4pm PDT | 6pm CDT | 7pm EDT

Featuring Unsha Bakker, MSN, RN, OCN, CBCN, Brain Cancer Support and Solutions Alliance (BCSSA) Nurse Navigator at Cancer Commons

Presented by our longtime partner, the Musella Foundation For Brain Tumor Research & Information, Inc. Link to attend: virtualtrials.org/webinar

The session will address the complexities of clinical trials—from understanding eligibility and logistics to weighing potential risks and benefits—through the lens of patient care.

The Brain Cancer Support and Solutions Alliance (BCSSA) Nurse Navigator position at Cancer Commons is supported by a generous grant from BCSSA member organizations Head For The Cure Foundation and the Musella Foundation For Brain Tumor Research & Information, Inc. Learn more: cancercommons.org/bcssa

05/05/2025

TOMORROW! You are invited to a free webinar: 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 Tuesday, May 6 at 4pm PDT | 6pm CDT | 7pm EDT

Featuring Unsha Bakker, MSN, RN, OCN, CBCN, Brain Cancer Support and Solutions Alliance (BCSSA) Nurse Navigator at Cancer Commons

Presented by our longtime partner, the Musella Foundation For Brain Tumor Research & Information, Inc. Link to attend: virtualtrials.org/webinar

The session will address the complexities of clinical trials—from understanding eligibility and logistics to weighing potential risks and benefits—through the lens of patient care.

The Brain Cancer Support and Solutions Alliance (BCSSA) Nurse Navigator position at Cancer Commons is supported by a generous grant from BCSSA member organizations Head For The Cure Foundation and the Musella Foundation For Brain Tumor Research & Information, Inc. Learn more: cancercommons.org/bcssa

Address

2625 Middlefield Road Ste 104
Palo Alto, CA
94306

Website

http://www.cancercommons.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Cancer Commons posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Cancer Commons:

Shortcuts

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Palo Alto?