As a writer, speaker, and consultant, I combine my professional and personal experiences to advocate for improved health care, with emphasis on quality cancer care in a system that incorporates complementary and alternative medicine, through educating the public about health and healing, national advocacy, and empowering consumers to advocate for themselves.

My professional experience includes cancer advocacy and health care policy, including work with the Food and Drug Administration, National Cancer Institute, and Members of Congress. As a writer, researcher, and spokesperson, I have also worked for the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine’s Clearinghouse. I have been hired as a consultant by the Lance Armstrong Foundation, The Wellness Community, Emerging Med, American Brain Tumor Association, National Brain Tumor Foundation, Alliance for Prostate Cancer Prevention, Center for Mind-Body Medicine, Institute for Traditional Acupuncture and Herbology, among other organizations, and have written for several magazines.

All of our parts exist in relation to the whole. My personal health care journey, especially through a brain tumor, deeply informs my work and enriches my perspective. I’ve shared my story with many groups and published related articles.

Please visit my web site at:  http://www.healingfocus.org

Please visit EmbodiWorks at:
http://www.embodiworks.org/cancertreatments/resources/topratedinformation/

EmbodiWorks provides definitive, reliable educational resources and supports advocacy focused on integrative cancer care to reduce cancer risk and improve cancer-related survival, quality of life, and whole person health care.

Ann Fonfa's special areas of interest include: Complementary/Alternative (CAM), natural and integrative therapies; Informed Choice (consent and more); Lymphedema (LE); Patients= Rights; Quality of Life; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SNB); Clinical Trials; palliative care, and more as they arise.

Ann believes that it is every persons right to be informed about treatment options including CAM. Studies have consistently shown that a majority of patients are interested in or currently using CAM. Many of these patients do not discuss the issue with their healthcare providers and some are using CAM during clinical trials. In 1997, Ann created the Annie Appleseed Project to provide information, education and advocacy. A more informed decision is a better one, regardless of the actual choices involved.

After her own cancer diagnosis, Ann began the process of educating herself - she has taken Project LEAD and Clinical Trials LEAD (basic training courses), Food as Medicine, Cancer-Guides, and the workshop on Evidence-based Healthcare. She's an advocate on an NIEHS grant on breast cancer and environmental research. Ann has reviewed for the Dept of Defense, the Avon Foundation, the California Breast Cancer Research Program, and Health Website Ratings. Ann is Advocacy Chair for the Florida Breast Cancer Coalition Research Foundation, Florida Field Coordinator for the National Breast Cancer Coalition, and is serving on the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender National Advisory Council for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Intro to my articles:
From the moment I awoke after cancer surgery, I was committed to advocating on cancer issues. I felt, strongly, that the system was not patient-friendly. In fact I often refer to it as "patient LAST".

I made a list of twelve things I thought were completely wrong about cancer diagnosis, treatment and more. I love to rant. This section will talk about real issues that matter to all of us affected by cancer. And as my partner often tells me - that is almost everyone these days.

While my interest in complementary and alternative medicine is the strongest, I cannot help getting involved in many other aspects. Join me as we explore every possible avenue in a quest to make the best out of a cancer diagnosis, its treatment, and survivorship (for however long we get). I welcome your feedback.