The AccessHope Expert Advisory Review

Today's post is a heavier one, and more treatment-centric. I want to walk through something that gave me a lot of peace this week: my Expert Advisory Review (EAR) from AccessHope.

WHAT IS ACCESSHOPE?

AccessHope is a benefit offered through Google (my employer) that connects employees and their families facing a cancer diagnosis to leading National Cancer Institute-designated specialists. Think of it as a no-cost, behind-the-scenes second opinion. They pull your records, route your case to a sub-specialist who literally lives and breathes your specific cancer, and produce a written review for you and your local oncologist. You don't have to travel. You don't have to switch doctors. You just get expert eyes on your plan.

For anyone reading this who works at Google or a company that offers AccessHope, please use it. https://www.myaccesshope.org/

WHO REVIEWED MY CASE

My reviewer was Dr. Christopher Manz, a GI oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and an Instructor in Medical Oncology at Harvard Medical School. Dana-Farber is one of the top cancer centers in the country, and GI oncology is exactly the sub-specialty I need for metastatic colon cancer. Having a Dana-Farber physician sanity-check the plan that Dr. Shergil of University of Chicago and Dr. Sidani and of Northwest Cancer Centers in Indiana really provides reassurances needed to stay optimistic.

WHAT DR. MANZ OF DANA FARBER (BOSTON, MA) RECOMMENDED

1. He agreed with starting chemotherapy. First-line for metastatic colon cancer is either FOLFOX or FOLFIRI, and many oncologists start with FOLFOX (which is the plan). If the disease burden in the liver is significant (and in my case it really is and the source of all of my pain,FOLFORINOX (a combination of both) is also reasonable up front to maximize the chance of tumor shrinkage, with the option to de-escalate later for tolerability.

2. He agreed with tumor molecular profiling, which is already underway. If my tumor comes back KRAS, NRAS, and BRAF wildtype, then adding either bevacizumab or an EGFR inhibitor (cetuximab or panitumumab) to FOLFOX or FOLFIRI can MODESTLY improve effectiveness.

3. No clinical trial recommendations at this moment. Given how much disease is showing up, he and all of my other amazing oncologists advised not to delay chemo while waiting on a trial slot. Well good because as we now, I have over FIFTY hours of chemo in my system (and the swelling to prove it).

WHY THIS MATTERS TO ME

When you get a stage IV diagnosis, your brain immediately asks: am I getting the right care? Is there something better somewhere else? Honestly I trust UofC and the local team already. BUT, Having a Harvard-trained, Dana-Farber GI oncologist independently review my full case and say "yes, this plan is the right plan". My head is in the game and now is the time.

I'm grateful to Google, to AccessHope, to Dr. Shergil, her nurse Cindy, Dr. Manz, and to Dr. Sidani and Erica who, from the beginning recommended this plan that has been now validated three times. So many sets of eyes. One plan. Let's go.

Just like the UofC team predicted, I would possibly feel nauseated today. Check ✅. Zolfran has now shown up to my stomach party. Ever watched that comedian Jim Breuer skit? Sure feels relevant here: https://youtu.be/2Ni-E_Ro1x8?si=eL2RNMttCuewcBi4

The full report is attached below (passcode-protected because it contains my full medical detail).

PDF: https://clbsskcxwqktlnebnxge.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/media/journal/2026-05-11-accesshope-ear-report.pdf

Learn more about AccessHope: https://www.myaccesshope.org/