In 1998, I was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma and given months to live. I consulted more than a dozen leading oncologists and got conflicting recommendations. No one could tell me: ‘Which treatment is best for me?’

A clinical trial saved my life—despite itself being unsuccessful—only raising more questions. Why did this therapy work for me but not for others? Could my experience help similar patients? It was life-saving knowledge I wanted to share with all cancer patients.

Welcome to Cancer Commons.

Marty Tenenbaum, PhD Founder of Cancer Commons

Help for Advanced Cancer Patients

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Our Services

We provide patients and their care teams with the actionable information and data they need to make informed decisions. We help identify and access individualized regimen of therapies that specifically target the molecular drivers of their disease and refer patients to a myriad of precision oncology services to help them navigate the cancer maze and minimize trial and error.

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Always Learning

What makes Cancer Commons unique is our continuous learning health system.

As we help patients identify and access novel tests, treatments, and trials, we learn continuously from every patient's experience—and share that knowledge with the world.

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Support Us

We've been helping cancer patients for more than a decade—and our services are free, supported by generous donations/philanthropy.

Please help us continue our work serving patients and changing the field of oncology with tax-deductible donation in any amount, and learn about other ways to support our mission.

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Since our founding in 2011, we have delivered personalized, evidence-based guidance at no charge to more than 10,000 patients and caregivers, supported entirely by philanthropy.

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  • What I appreciate the most about Emma is her human goodness and empathy. I have never felt I was just a case for her.

    Marilou
    Cervical cancer survivor

  • Spoke personally with both Leslie Jared, RN, and Lola Rahib, PhD—they promptly responded and answered all of my questions. They were both very helpful.

    Nancy
    Wife of a pancreatic cancer patient

  • I had never reached out to anyone else besides my oncologist’s team. I was so shocked that I did not know about you. No one ever brought up trials with me. Cancer Commons was the first and only. The National Cancer Institute should be funding you. Everyone should have access to Cancer Commons.

    Michelle Kendall
    Cancer Patient

  • The team was a great complement to my local oncology team! The findings of the analysis and tumor board recommendations helped confirm that our “First line standard of care” was corroborated and also offered a potential map of 2nd and 3rd line care. Further, clinical trials pertinent to my specific genomic cancer were identified with the closest providers currently offering trial enrollment.

    Mary Lou
    Metastatic colorectal cancer patient

  • I’d already been leaning heavily towards a decision, and Emma helped me achieve the final decision…But Emma’s more than a scientist. She is a caring person.

    Ellen
    Breast cancer patient

Cancer Commons is staffed by accomplished researchers with PhDs in the molecular biology and pharmacology of cancer and in Artificial Intelligence. They have joined the Commons to apply their knowledge and expertise to help patients research their options in real time using the latest tools of precision oncology.

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