Stand Up To Cancer

The cancer community is not an isolated community. In truth, it is the human community. One in three women and one in two men will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. Fifteen hundred people will die each day from cancer. The toll this disease takes--not only on people with cancer and survivors, but on their loved ones as well--is almost too great to bear. But through family, friendship, and "community" those of us affected by cancer can transform this burden into a badge of strength.

It was many decades ago when President Richard Nixon launched his war on cancer. But when was the last time you heard about the outcome or were asked to participate?

You are not imagining the silence.

Often we are unsure of what it actually means to be a patient advocate. We are unsure of how exactly we as individuals can affect the outcomes of science or medicine or government.

There are many people in the cancer community who spend their daily lives fighting on behalf of those with cancer. These advocates lobby for increased funding for cancer research, survivorship and support programs. They sit on scientific panels to ensure that the projects being funded will directly impact patients' lives. They ensure that the information about cancer is accurate and up to date. They rally their memberships to apply pressure on government officials to reignite our country's dedication to "the fight against cancer."

But the fire that drives most of these "patient advocates" stems from their own personal experiences with cancer. Most of them are survivors or caregivers themselves. We as individuals must acknowledge that we too can transform our own experiences into a hunger for change.

It starts by becoming our own self-advocates. Often this notion is daunting. But there are many ways to advocate for oneself in the face of this disease.

We have the power in dealing with our own day-to-day healthcare to be proactive with our doctors. To ask questions. To become informed about the treatment options out there and how to demand better ones. To assure ourselves that we know our bodies better than anybody else. But the first steps, while bold, are only steps. As residents, consumers, voters and citizens we can become informed, involved and heard.

The most basic reason for this is very simple: no one can hear a voice that is quiet. We cannot rely on others to do all of our talking for us. If we wish to be heard, we must speak up with a loud and determined voice. We must join with others (advocates, researchers, individuals) to achieve success.

We have power in the marketplace of politics, of commerce, of ideas. We can tell our neighbors what we know. We can write our legislators at every level of government, no matter their party, to notify them about what is important to us. We can send messages to companies who are not manufacturing products with the common good in mind. We can use our voting power, our buying power, our vocal chords and our very existence to push for progress.

Let's make our voices heard! Go to the Get Involved section of our website and follow Senator Specter's instructions to write a letter to your representative demanding increased funding for the NIH. Visit our resources page and become active with a local cancer advocacy or support group.

However you choose to get involved, do something! Add your personal story, your unique message, so that together, as a community, we are poised to share our voice and knowledge in matters impacting people with cancer.

For more information on Patient Advocacy visit:

NCCS: www.canceradvocacy.org
NBCC: www.stopbreastcancer.org
ACS CAN: action.acscan.org
LIVESTRONG: www.livestrong.com

-- Julia, SU2C.org Creative Consultant