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Halasartan

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Halasartan
חלאסרטן
Formation2016; 8 years ago (2016)
TypeNon-Governmental Organization
Headquarters Israel
ServicesSupport for young oncology patients
MethodsDigital community, mentoring, in-person clinics
Award(s)Israeli Innovation Prize (2016), Zusman-Joint Prize (2020)

Halasartan (Hebrew: חלאסרטן) or Stop Cancer is an Israeli non-governmental organization that primarily works on a voluntary basis to provide relief and support for young oncology patients.[1][2][3] According to the European Society for Medical Oncology, the organization serves young patients with cancer among the ages 18–45 years,[4][2] through its large-scale operations.[2][5] The NGO targets mostly patients with breast cancer, genitourinary, haematological malignancies, melanoma, lymphoma, colorectal cancer, and leukaemia, among others.[2][6] The community offered by the program enables patients to alleviate their 'sense of seclusion’[2] and reduce anxiety.’[2] The organization's goals are two-sided: first, to characterize the user profile of young patients with cancer, their goals and unmet needs;[5] secondly, "to influence the attitudes of official state institutions."[1] External surveys show that patients consider the network not only as a reliable source for medical information,[5] but also for patient mentoring of newly diagnosed members by cancer survivors.[5]

History

[edit]

In 2016, Zohar Yakobson, founder of the Israeli Tal Center for Integrative Oncology,[4] joined hands with Shira Segal Kuperman,[4] to establish an appropriate "solution or response for young people with cancer."[7] According to Yakobson, there was "a framework for children and a framework for adults – but what about someone who is at the height of their life, studying, [...] and suddenly thrust into a hospital with no framework for people of that age."[7]

The new venture was named Halasartan (also transcribed as HalaSartan), derived from the Hebrew: חלאס or "stop" and the Hebrew: סרטן or "cancer."[7] The target patients were mostly served via social media, due to their age and their easy access to digital media and online materials.[8][9]

Soon after its establishment its digital community reached over 25,000 participants.[7] The NGO, supported by Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD),[7][4] assisted young cancer patients in dating and social interactions.[10][11] The community focused on "starting conversations that can be difficult or uncomfortable, trying to remove the element of embarrassment" associated with cancer.[8][12]

Later, Halasartan also began approaching community members who have survived cancer, asking them to become mentors for recently diagnosed young cancer patients.[8] As a result of internal surveys conducted by members of the Halasartan community, the need arose to create a meeting between new patients and members of the community who are cancer survivors,[13] which led to the creation of the in-person, face-to-face programs.[14]

Onsite programs

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After the success of their digital community, and after studying the various unmet needs and unique challenges of young cancer patients,[10] Halasartan established dedicated clinics in hospitals with large oncological centers for young adults.[7][8] This included the Rambam Hospital in Haifa, with a dedicated staff, including cancer survivors offering mentoring and support to new patients.[7][13][15] The role of these Halasartan community cancer-survivors was to assist new patients with using the digital tools provided by the program. The tools were customized to provide most benefit for patients' individual needs.[13][16]

In addition to mentoring, the in-person clinics also aimed at identifying barriers to counseling across the hospital units and services.[8] Multidisciplinary in nature, the clinics offered patients assistance with emotional distress surrounding the illness, addressing issues like fertility preservation,[17] hormonal effects and early menopause, sexual functioning, and rehabilitation, as well as psychosocial needs like coping with young parenthood, new relationships, loneliness, and returning to work.[8] Unlike other oncological departments serving cancer patients of all ages, the young adults' clinic programs began focusing on "preserving fertility, offering guidance and making these issues a priority."[8] Fertility had been found to be a subject of high importance for young, especially female, cancer patients.[8]

Following the success of the Halasartan clinic at the Rambam Hospital in Haifa, the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan contacted Halasartan, proposing that a similar clinic be established at the Ramat Gan hospital.[7] At this new clinic site within Sheba, the focus was on ensuring an holistic approach to patient well-being, with highly individualized programs. Such a "customized supportive system" meant providing access to the full spectrum of psychosocial assistance to patients.[18][19] The social, physical, and emotional aspects of recovery and reintegration are supported. This full spectrum support means services to assist with patients' occupational, physical or cognitive rehabilitation. Emotional health might need support around interpersonal relationships, sexuality, and body image. For young adults who have undergone cancer treatments, counseling and treatments for fertility status, which may include induced premature menopause or andropause are often needed. The intent of the Sheba clinic is to offer integrated access to these, and any other, needed services.[13][20] At Sheba, Halasartan initiated a young patients' council. The joint council of doctors and patients is held periodically to discuss and contribute to the design of the program's activities, with the patients themselves suggesting improvements.[13][21]

Following the monitoring of the program at Rambam and Sheba hospitals, the results of the program's activities were presented[to whom?] to implement the program at the national level in all major hospitals throughout Israel.[13][22]

Struggle for equality for cancer survivors

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The organization strives to acknowledge the special needs of young cancer patients as well as of cancer survivors. In Israel, 60% of young cancer survivors are not hired back to work.[23] In addition, due to life insurance policies, young cancer survivors are not eligible for any house-funding or mortgage.[23][24] Halasartan launched a national campaign to raise awareness and to change legislation, which resulted in the support of Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who voiced his position in support of the goal.[23][25][26]

Halasartan also labored at the national level to assist cancer patients with governmental bureaucratic procedures.[27] Following a national campaign, a new legislation passed within the tax authority, National Insurance and the Ministry of Transportation. All cancer patients were given a unique status in all governmental offices, resulting in unique services offering expedited service and digital assistance.[28]

Oncological young adult clinics

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The association operates in the largest four medical centers in Israel, and is part of the oncology network in the departments. It is distinguished by its activity in identifying actual needs at the individual and collective level, and for matching projects that provide a satisfactory response to the needs of young adults and their supporting environment.

Awards and achievements

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In 2016 Halasartan was awarded the Israeli Innovation Prize by the Israeli Shivuk Association.[32]

In 2020, in recognition of its activities, the Halasartan Association was awarded the international Zusman-Joint Prize for excellence in the development of social services.[3] The NGO was recognized for creating solutions for an international index of health systems known as "Unmet Needs for Health Care."[3] According to the prize committee, the association "seeks to change the popular perception that cancer patients are the sole responsibility of medical professionals, providing a greater role for the community. This, in turn, helps the health care system improve its services."[3]

Criticism

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Heavily relying on communication with its patients through social media, Halasartan has been criticized for its extensive use of the medium. It was stated that its means of communication may act as a double-edged sword in the setting of uncontrolled medical information.[5]

According to The Lancet, Halasartan "exploits" the evolving digital world.[6] Social media may offer anonymity to its members, however it cannot replace the importance of personal medical consultation.[6]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b "'Halasartan' digital space for young cancer patients wins best new launch award". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Ben-Aharon, Irit; Goshen-Lago, Tal; Turgeman, Ilit; Fontana, Elisa; Smyth, Elizabeth; Lordick, Florian (May 2020). "Young patients with cancer and a digital social network: the voice beyond the clinic". ESMO Open. 5 (3): e000651. doi:10.1136/esmoopen-2019-000651. ISSN 2059-7029. PMC 7228558. PMID 32385087.
  3. ^ a b c d "Innovation and Compassion: Winners of the Zusman-Joint Prize". The Joint. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d Galanti, Michal (2 October 2017). "THE LOUNGE". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e PubMed, Ben-Aharon, Irit; Goshen-Lago, Tal; Turgeman, Ilit; Fontana, Elisa; Smyth, Elizabeth; Lordick, Florian (May 2020). "Young patients with cancer and a digital social network: the voice beyond the clinic". ESMO Open. 5 (3): e000651. doi:10.1136/esmoopen-2019-000651. PMC 7228558. PMID 32385087.
  6. ^ a b c Ben-Aharon, Irit; Goshen-Lago, Tal; Fontana, Elisa; Smyth, Elizabeth; Guren, Marianne; Caballero, Carmela; Lordick, Florian (1 June 2019). "Social networks for young patients with cancer: the time for system agility". The Lancet Oncology. 20 (6): 765. doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(19)30346-8. ISSN 1470-2045. PMID 31162090. S2CID 174808947.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Grave-Lazi, Lidar (7 March 2021). "Zohar Yakobson – Acting with compassion". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Farachdel, Liza (December 2020). "Meeting the Needs of Young People with Cancer" (PDF). Rambam on Call. 26.
  9. ^ "N12 – "'חלאסרטן' עוזרת לא להרגיש לבד"". N12. 21 October 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  10. ^ a b Blum, Brian (29 August 2019). "When Eliav met Etti: Love triumphs over cancer". ISRAEL21c. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  11. ^ ""כן, אני זאת שהתחתנה עם קרחת בזמן הטיפולים"". mako. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  12. ^ ""כשבצד השני שומעים שיש לי סרטן, זה כבד להם"". www.maariv.co.il. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  13. ^ a b c d e f Jerusalem Post Staff (10 August 2020). "Cancer support program for young people launches nationwide". The Jerusalem Post - JPost.com. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  14. ^ "N12 – הצעירה שמאחורי הקמפיין להעלאת מודעות לסרטן המעי הגס". N12. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  15. ^ אליזרע, רותם (4 February 2019). "חדש ברמב"ם: מרפאה לטיפול בצעירים חולי סרטן – מתחת גיל 45". ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  16. ^ "שביתת האחיות: "אני מצטערת שלא אהיה שם בשבילך"". mako. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  17. ^ גולן, שיר-לי (17 March 2021). "גברים מספרים: "החלמתי מסרטן, אבל המיניות השתנתה לגמרי"". ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  18. ^ "לראשונה בישראל הושקה תכנית ארצית לטיפול ותמיכה בצעירים חולי סרטן". www.maariv.co.il. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  19. ^ a b "תוכנית לטיפול בחולי סרטן צעירים". cancer.sheba.co.il. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  20. ^ ""מדברים אתנו על לנצח את ה'מחלה'. אף אחד לא מדבר על סקס, על אינטימיות"". TheMarker. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  21. ^ ""נופלים בין הכסאות": חולי סרטן צעירים יקראו בכנסת לטיפול מותאם – וואלה! חדשות". וואלה! (in Hebrew). 20 February 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  22. ^ "התמודדות עם סרטן בתקופת הקורונה". mako. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  23. ^ a b c Edwards, Danny (2 August 2019). "New Israeli campaign gets stuck into cancer". shots. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  24. ^ "ניצח את הסרטן, הפסיד לחברת הביטוח: הסיפור המרגיז על המילואימניק שרצה לקחת משכנתא". TheMarker. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  25. ^ טויזר, ענבר (27 June 2019). ""מי יודע אם בכלל אגיע לגיל הפנסיה"". ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  26. ^ "ריבלין נפגש עם חולי סרטן צעירים במסגרת שבוע המודעות". www.maariv.co.il. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  27. ^ "לאחר שהבריא מהסרטן, גל אפל יוצא למאבק למען חולים צעירים". www.maariv.co.il. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  28. ^ ליאור, גד (7 April 2021). "הקלות לחולי סרטן: יוכלו לקבל פטור ממס הכנסה באופן דיגיטלי". ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  29. ^ "מרפאות אונקולוגיות – אונקולוגיה | רמב"ם". www.rambam.org.il. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  30. ^ "אשפוז יום למטופלי סרטן, אשפוז יום אונקולוגי | איכילוב". סרטן – אשפוז יום אונקולוגי (in Hebrew). Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  31. ^ "מרפאת צעירים | שירותים מיוחדים למטופלי דוידוף | מרכז מידע למחלות הסרטן על שם מאיר ליזר". www.cancerinfo-davidoff.co.il. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  32. ^ "ההשקה המנצחת של 2016: חלאסרטן של מרכז טל". איגוד השיווק הישראלי (in Hebrew). 8 May 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
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