Charlotte, NC -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/17/2014 -- When 47-year-old David Wallace was diagnosed with Polycythemia Vera in 2009, he was puzzled by this rare blood cancer. The diagnosis was overwhelming and making snap decisions on selecting a hematologist and course of treatment was challenging. “Frankly, I didn’t know enough about my disease to know where to start,” says Wallace. “I needed information quickly in order to make educated decisions about my treatment; it was an intense period of adjusting to a new norm. To make matters more difficult, I discovered doctors don’t have a standard protocol for treating my disease. Naturally, I went online to research my options. It was difficult to find all of the resources I needed in one place. Four years later, I decided to help other MPN patients and developed a comprehensive, easy to navigate, patient focused website for Myeloproliferative Neoplasms, thus PV Reporter was born.”

PVReporter.com is the first MPN website designed as a starting point for newly diagnosed patients and caregivers. It features MPN Search, a custom search engine using an algorithm that was created to cut through the clutter and retrieves the good stuff that we are looking for. Patients will find a detailed resource page listing many reliable websites, clinical trials, MPN patient conferences, as well as online email support groups and Facebook groups that would otherwise be very time consuming to hunt down. An extensive Blog page features the latest news, research studies, patient stories, emerging drugs and more. There has been a notable increase of new research in the last couple of years, so the future looks bright.

In the first six months, PV Reporter has served thousands of patients world-wide who spend a good deal of time on the site researching their own MPN, which includes three closely related blood cancers – Polycythemia Vera, Essential Thrombocythemia and Myelofibrosis. PV Reporter has been recognized by other notable publications including MPNforum and Patient Empowerment Network, where Wallace serves on the Board of Directors. The driving force is to help patients get up-to-speed as quickly as possible and learn to become “Empowered Patients.” I am excited to receive moving testimonials from patients that serve as a reminder that all of the hard work is having a positive impact,” says Wallace. By highlighting and organizing the great efforts of so many organizations, individuals and contributors, www.PVReporter can accelerate the steep learning curve for patients, while helping them make informed decisions about their treatment plan.

About Polycythemia Vera
Polycythemia Vera is a rare blood cancer where your bone marrow produces too many red blood cells. While Polycythemia Vera is not a curable illness, patients are becoming more aware of treatment options thanks to the rise of social media channels and patient-centric websites.

About www.PVReporter.com
PV Reporter was created to fill a gap in the MPN patient community providing “easy access” to pertinent information on all Myeloproliferative Neoplasms. It has become the MPN Patient Research Hub featuring comprehensive, relevant, update to date information offering patients the tools to make better decisions affecting their care.

About David Wallace
Founder of PV Reporter, a resource for Myeloproliferative Neoplasm (MPN) patients and caregivers. After being diagnosed with Polycythemia Vera (PV) in 2009, I utilized social media to connect with "informed patients" and develop a better understanding of emerging treatment options. My philosophy on patient care is straight forward - "educating the patient is essential, so the patient can guide their physician to meet his or her needs." PV Reporter is a comprehensive resource hub giving visitors vital tools to become "empowered patients." It should be noted that he financed the website completely out of pocket and hopes to find sponsors or joint venture opportunities in the near future.

Contact:
David Wallace
Charlotte, NC
704-545-2799
david@pvreporter.com