Our Story
MaryForward was founded to help patients and families move from uncertainty to a plan—with clarity, compassion, and evidence.
Our mission
We believe every patient deserves access to expert-reviewed decision support, regardless of geography, language, or resources.
Our principles
- Safety first: Every report is reviewed by expert clinicians before sharing.
- Transparency: We cite our sources and state limitations clearly.
- Respect: We treat every case with care and confidentiality.
- Collaboration: We work with—not around—your care team.
Maryforward.com is a dedication to Mary A. (Kaczaniuk) Kashanchi, who passed away at the age of 65 due to a rare form of cancer. Mary was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and was the cherished daughter of the late Kaczaniuk family. She was highly accomplished in her career of dedication to the causes of human health and well-being at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) for over 40 years. She balanced work, family and career responsibilities and was a shining example of a well-rounded person.
She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend, whose quick wit and warm sense of humor brought joy to all who knew her. Her smile always lit up the room and she touched many hearts in her life. Although at times unknowingly, she followed the path of Mother Teresa in many ways; she believed and practiced to forgive people, was honest, found happiness in the simplest things in life, always paid forward, and gave her best to the world around her. These qualities of consistently embodying such virtues made her a rare human being.
After her passing, her husband and multiple close friends and colleagues decided to start this company to help patients who face rather complex and rare diseases with patient advocacy at the center of its core mission. The intent is to assist both patients and health care providers to find the most up to date diagnostics and therapeutics (including relevant clinical trials) related to infectious diseases and rare forms of cancer. We will provide multiple documents that will allow patients to understand and battle the challenges they face and assist in understanding the potential path to recovery. The information provided will act as a conversation starter between the patient and health care providers and it does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Therefore, personalized medical advice for each patient requires consultation with their health care provider team.
