Every cancer leaves clues. I am a PhD scientist who digs into the research behind your diagnosis, then helps you and your family understand the options and decide what's right for you.
You get an honest, independent, evidence-based opinion, based on 20+ years in cancer research, with your goals in mind.
You have a treatment decision to make, and you want to understand the evidence before you make it.
You think a clinical trial might help, but you do not know which one, or whether you would qualify.
You want to know all your real options, including ones you may not have heard about.
Your diagnosis is rare or unclear, and you need someone who has seen cases like it.
You are lost in conflicting information online and want someone who knows the science.
You are making decisions for someone you love, and want to ensure you have a full picture.
If any of this is you, you are in the right place.
Patients are people first. Behind every diagnosis there is a person with a life — what is important to you, things you are afraid of, things you are hoping for. I start there.
Your goals may not be the usual ones, and that is allowed. Maybe how you feel day to day matters to you as much as anything else. Maybe what matters most is being there for someone you love, staying well enough to travel, or exploring options beyond the standard treatment. These questions belong in the decision.
So I weigh the evidence around your goals, and give you the honest picture. The decision is yours, and I will help you reach it.
In practice:
I look at what it actually reveals, how reliable it is, and how certain the diagnosis really is.
Sometimes the report you have is not the one you need, and the finding that matters most is one no one looked for.
Newer diagnostics can refine the diagnosis or reveal treatment options — I look for the ones that would change your plan.
The standard may trail the research, so I search the latest studies, trials, and compassionate-use options for what applies to you.
I take the time to make sure they make sense to you.
Before the appointments that matter, we prepare together, so nothing important gets missed.
They are welcome in every conversation with me, and when it helps, I will be there when you meet your doctors.
For more than twenty years I have worked in molecular biology and immunology, much of it focused on cancer. My doctoral research was in tumor immunology — how cancer hides from the body's own immune defenses.
For years now my work has been with patients and their families, on the hardest cases. I investigate in depth, find the latest relevant research and treatments, explain what it means, and help them communicate with their providers and make decisions. This is what I love, and it is why I started Sherlock Health.
I hold a PhD in molecular biology and immunology and a master's in biochemistry. To me, patients are people first. I will give your case the care I would want for my own family or friends.
— Irina
There are clear boundaries to what I do as a patient advocate. Here they are:
Not for a hospital, an insurer, or a lab. My only interest is your outcome.
I do not diagnose or treat. Your doctors do that. I add in-depth research, and help you understand the full picture.
I am here to support your care, rather than replace it.
It stays between us.
Start with a free conversation. Tell me about your situation, and I will tell you honestly whether and how I can help.
What happens next
Or write to irina@sherlock-health.org
If you are reaching out for someone you love, you are welcome here too.