These founders want to help cure cancer: Two intrepid entrepreneurs are bringing the wisdom of crowds to bear on a solution for multiple myeloma (MM) and other rare cancer diseases.

• Author: Miller, Derek

TRADITIONALLY, when you go to the doctor with an illness, your records--lab results, treatment plans, and outcomes--are kept in the doctor's database. Medical privacy has led to this data sitting in a black box or solitary confinement, unable to aggregate and compare against others facing similar diagnoses across geographies. However, most patients would be willing to share their information in order for providers to find better treatments and extend the lives of similar patients.

That's why HealthTree, an innovative startup founded by Jenny and Paul Ahlstrom, is pioneering a patient-centric approach to crowdsource data from all diagnosed cases that want to participate in sharing their medical information. The platform at the center of HealthTree brings a revolutionary approach to medicine. It connects the dots between patients and cutting-edge scientists so each individual medical team can make the best decision on treatment and side effects to ensure optimal outcomes. This is accomplished through several portals that one can join, like HealthTree Cure Hub, HealthTree University, Myeloma Crowd, and Myeloma Coach.

The Myeloma Coach program pairs new patients with caregivers or other patient volunteers to help them navigate challenges associated with their diagnosis. The Myeloma Crowd keeps patients updated on breaking news, events, and the basics of the disease. HealthTree University teaches cancer basics, progressing through therapy and treatment to genetic mutations, and currently, how COVID is impacting MM patients. The University platform provides a masterclass on this cancer and empowers the patient to take control of their diagnosis.

The Cure Hub is where the magic happens, because this portal allows patients to input their data, side effects, and other experiences with certain drug treatments...