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Jack is a principal and analyst of a research firm that focuses on Information Technology and the Internet infrastructure. He is married, has three fabulous daughters who are married, three awesome sons-in-law, twin granddaughters that are absolutely delightful and perfect. He lives in Andover, MA with his wife Jan still adjusting to the empty nest with a family cat. Just for fun, see the bottle of Guinness on Jack’s infusion rack. This prop frequently brought some humor to the hard-working oncology nurses and aides and some fearful patients in the infusion room at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) in Boston. Jack, that Guinness guy.
Diagnosed six years ago, now beating the then published life expectancy of 5-7 years of a rare incurable form of blood cancer, a lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma called Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia (WM), he is determined to help in the research, care and ultimate cure of this rare cancer which affects about 1200 new patients each year. Jack is betting on Clinical Trials.
WM has many similarities with Multiple Myeloma and non-Hodgkins Lymphoma; many of the chemotherapies, immunotherapies and other emerging B cell malignancy targeting treatments including biologic agents are used to battle this unique, uncommon blood cancer.
As Waldenstroms is an orphan blood cancer, it doesn’t get much attention and no government-specific funding for research and the quest for a cure. However, there is a small but effective group of patients, caregivers, physicians, researchers and other medical and pharmaceutical professionals who through the efforts of the International Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia Foundation (IWMF) lead the charge in research and care of patients and caregivers living with this cancer. Jack is an active member, recently appointed New England Support Group Leader and volunteer with IWMF serving as the organization’s volunteer photographer, an event speaker and writer/contributor to the IWMF Torch! newsletter. In addition, Jack is a patient advocate and volunteer with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), the Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF). He’s also an associate member with AACR, and member of ASCO, DIA and Research Advocacy Network.
Active volunteer/advocate with the Leukemia, Lymphoma Society, (LLS) supporter of Team in Training, Light the Night, currently supporting LLS, American Cancer Society (ACS) DFCI and others educating Massachusetts state legislators to get support for oral chemotherapy parity regulations, a move that will save all parties significant healthcare costs while providing pharmacy coverage (for pill-form chemotherapy) at the same rate for patients that would normally be covered when receiving chemotherapy in the infusion room.
Jack was recently featured on the cover of Cancer Today.
Update: Jack Whelan passed away in 2017. We are grateful for his strong advocacy on behalf of cancer patients everywhere.
