Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Year 2022 brought to our life’s new challenges. But on the front of cancer research there was lot of done. Our friends at Memorial Sloan Kettering successfully used immunotherapy to successfully treat rectal cancer (https://www.mskcc.org/news/rectal-cancer-disappears-after-experimental-use-immunotherapy).

I would like to ask you for donation for cancer research and remind you that there is program called MSK Direct which literally can save the life. In this program Barclays has partnered with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) to offer a Barclays employees and their families and friends offers guided access to exceptional cancer treatment. Please see details on photo or text under my introduction.

Let me introduce myself and my journey:

My name is Marian Felsen (Maros) and I am very thankful to be an employee of Barclays and be part of Strategy Analytics team. On December 10th, 2017, I was diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer and from that moment my life changes drastically. On the same day I texted my team leader to share the news. My family and I will never forget the support I received from my colleagues and leaders of the bank. Without their support, help, love and prayers probably I would not be around to help my spouse and children anymore.

Within a week my doctor from Mercy (Baltimore) arranged biopsy and the results were better than I could imagine, I did not have adenocarcinoma, but rare slower growing neuroendocrine type of pancreatic cancer (pNET). Due to the burden, I got chemotherapy as the first treatment but after my platelets were low and there was the progress in growth I switched to hormonal treatment. Slowly I realized how important are things around us and how we can impact our health. Started slowly with exercise twice a week, shifting to vegan diet with attempts of intermittent fasting I slowly began feeling better. My colleague introduced me to Sadghuru meditation after attending the Inner Engineering course I am trying to meditate daily. 

Once browsing through My rewards page already utilizing health advocates to help me with bills and insurance three times declined Gallium 67 Pet Scan (which helps doctor to see better all tumor burden) I saw icon for Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Care program. I called and got appointment for second opinion. The doctors there are great. I got additional DNA testing to see for the mutations very specific and more detail compared to other institutes and I have sessions with my doctor there to consult current treatment and future options.     

As person who fully realized the limited time, we have I am on the mission to promote healthy life style and try to give something back.

With my colleague Walter McDonald and many more we were able to organize fundraising 5K run/walk event to donate money to Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation (https://netrf.org/2019/10/18/a-great-day-for-a-victory-lap/) and for second year we organized Virtual Step up challenge to support Breast Cancer Research at MSK (http://mskcc.convio.net/goto/BarclaysBreastCancerAwareness). 

Last year we organized donation for Step Up for Lymphoma Research with our colleagues from Investment side (http://mskcc.convio.net/goto/StepUpForLymphomaResearch)

This year we will do fundraising event for cancer in general research at MSK. Please join us in this effort!

Thank you very much!

Maros (Marian Felsen)

About Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) Direct

Barclays has partnered with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) to offer a benefit called MSK Direct — a program that offers guided access to exceptional cancer treatment for our employees and their family members. MSK Direct helps patients connect with expert care from an experienced and compassionate team of cancer specialists at MSK while providing practical and emotional support along the way.

CONTACT MSK DIRECT IF YOU OR A FAMILY MEMBER

• Are diagnosed with cancer and would like to explore options for treatment at MSK

• Receive results from a medical test or exam that indicate a suspicion of cancer

• Would like a second opinion on a cancer diagnosis or care plan

• Are in cancer treatment elsewhere and would like to schedule a consult with an MSK specialist about possible options

MSK DIRECT WILL

• Schedule an initial appointment at MSK, usually within two business days

• Help gather necessary medical records for the initial appointment

• Meet patients at their initial appointment to provide support, logistical assistance, and introductions to members of the patient’s clinical team

• Recommend a local facility for patients who live far from MSK and prefer to be treated closer to home

ACCESS MSK DIRECT THROUGH BARCLAYS’ TOLL-FREE MEMBER LINE: (844) 350-5031

Available Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm EST. Messages left outside of these hours of operation will be returned the next business day.