What is Patient Advocacy?
Many people personally affected by cancer want to give back and make cancer an easier experience for those who follow and there are a variety of different ways to advocate in this space.
Patient advocates have a variety of roles, from sharing their personal stories to drive awareness to supporting and guiding the newly diagnosed, to working with industry and technology to shape the future of oncology resources. Some choose to specialize in research or policy change as well.
Research advocates are trained to provide the patient perspective and engage with scientists throughout the research process when considering clinical trials to sharing information gleaned from studies.
Policy advocates speak to their communities, institutions, and elected officials about the gaps in policy and needs of cancer patients.
Many advocates create entirely new ways to change the narrative in cancer care. What’s your path?
Getting Started
If you’re new to advocacy, these are some resources that can help you get started and to explore the possibilities. If you’ve been in advocacy for awhile but are looking to expand your knowledge or collaborative in different ways, there are plenty of options for you as well. Join Us
Patient Advocacy and Support
Patient advocacy is used to describe many activities typically filled by individuals with lived experience. Patient advocates have a variety of roles, from sharing their personal stories to drive awareness to supporting and guiding the newly diagnosed, to working with industry and technology to shape the future of oncology resources. Some choose to specialize in research or policy change as well.
Research Advocacy
Research advocates are trained to provide the patient perspective and engage with scientists throughout the research process when considering clinical trials to sharing information gleaned from studies. Some have extensive training in basic science or cell biology already but others can participate in programs to improve their knowledge and understanding of cancer and the research process.
Policy Advocacy
Policy happens at many levels including institutions, local, regional, state, and federal levels. Policy advocates work to educate the community and policymakers on important issues that affect people impacted by cancer and help to cement solutions in policy to ensure access and equity for all.