Take Action Through Cancer Advocacy

Whether it affects you, someone you love or someone you’re ministering to or caring for, cancer can turn lives upside down. Common emotions experienced include fear, uncertainty and anger. One of the most difficult feelings may be a sense of losing control over the situation. Because of this, at some point in the cancer journey, you, the patient, a family member or other caregiver may feel compelled to take action. Many people touched by cancer, including cancer survivors and caregivers, search for ways to make a difference in the lives of others touched by the disease -- to transform their experience into change.

What is Cancer Advocacy?

Cancer advocacy is speaking out on issues that you care about with the goal of improving the lives of people with cancer. A cancer advocate is someone who supports or defends a cause, idea or policy regarding cancer. Advocacy can include personal advocacy, advocacy for others and advocacy in the public interest. It can be on an individual, local or national level. The voices of survivors or caregivers are especially powerful. Think about this area of service for yourself and consider mentioning it to someone you minister to.

Examples of Cancer Advocacy

There are many ways to be a cancer advocate. And an advocate may decide to advocate for his or her own care or for the care of others. For example, advocates may support other patients and caregivers by sharing the lessons they learned. They may want to raise awareness about a specific disease or lobby for increased funding for cancer research. They may decide to volunteer for fundraising events in their local community, such as a cancer walk/run. They may also work to change laws and policies that affect people living with cancer.  

In addition, cancer patients can also become self-advocates by taking an active role in their own cancer care. Becoming a self-advocate can include communicating effectively with the health care team and asking questions. It can mean becoming informed about treatment options and being part of the decision-making process. It can mean recruiting others, such as family and friends, to help sort through all the information.

Benefits of Becoming a Cancer Advocate

Cancer advocacy can be a healing force. It can transform a person’s outlook about the disease and provide a sense of control. Many cancer survivors and caregivers feel more empowered when they get involved in the fight against cancer.

Cancer advocacy can provide a sense of community and mutual support. Working alongside others for the same cause can provide survivors with a sense of hope. It gives people a chance to fight back against a disease that has changed their lives in so many ways. Cancer advocacy allows people to give back to those who provided help during a time of need and also to help those newly diagnosed with the lessons learned. It can provide people with a platform to share their own stories about cancer with others. It provides an opportunity to speak out about critical issues directly affecting those living with cancer.

Cancer advocacy can also change the way people view themselves and their abilities. It can give them a sense of control in a time of uncertainty and for the cancer patient, it can help them move from the role of patient to survivor. They can choose how they want to volunteer their time, understand where they fit in and what skills they possess. They may discover hidden talents or see themselves in a different way.

The Powerful Voice of a Survivor

Nobody can speak about cancer better than those who have been there. The voice of the survivor is indeed a powerful tool. Behind the voice is passion and dedication that comes only from personal experience. Cancer advocacy is one way to take action and help others who will face a similar path. By sharing both voice and knowledge, a cancer survivor can help to bring about change for those impacted by cancer.

Cancer may have created a sense of loss of control. Cancer advocacy can help those touched by cancer discover what they can control.

Tips for Becoming a Cancer Advocate/Joining the Cancer Cause

If you or someone you’re ministering to is interested in becoming a cancer advocate, here are some tips to consider:

• Choose your cause. Decide what you stand for and what cancer issues you want to support. Research different advocacy opportunities to help determine how to best apply your skills and talents towards this cause. You may also ask your healthcare team about possible advocacy opportunities that share your interests and objectives.
• Connect with cancer patients in your community. You may want to help guide someone who is newly diagnosed with cancer through the cancer experience by sharing your own personal experiences. This may mean volunteering for a telephone hotline or participating in a cancer emotional support group. Service and support groups help patients and caregivers realize they don’t have to face cancer alone.
• Start your own support group. First, establish a purpose for your group. Create a committee and recruit others in your area to join you. Determine the dates, times, and the location to hold your meetings (e.g., churches, libraries, community centers, private home). You can also attend other meetings to understand how they operate. To get people to know about your group, create and distribute a flyer via email and in appropriate public areas (e.g., doctor’s offices, hospitals, pharmacies, churches, post office, libraries). You can also call a local newsletter for a free announcement in the community calendar.
• Educate the public. Work at the local or national level to increase awareness and educate the public about cancer. For example, you may decide to speak to church groups, civic groups, or the media about cancer-related issues such as insurance access and the importance of screening and early detection. You may also decide to start an awareness program to educate people in your community about cancer prevention.
• Donate money to cancer research. Support cancer-related research by donating money to a cancer group (e.g., through a workplace-giving program). Or buy products, such as postage stamps, where a portion of the money is set aside for cancer research.
• Participate in fundraising activities. Plan and/or participate in local and national fundraising activities both to raise awareness about cancer and to raise money for cancer research. For example, you may volunteer or participate in a cancer walk/run, dinner or other entertainment activities.
• Support clinical trials. You may also want to support clinical trials for cancer. For example, you may decide to serve on an Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) at your local hospital.
• Join a cancer organization/society/foundation. There are numerous cancer organizations, societies and foundations that focus on different areas and cater to specific needs. The goal of many of these organizations is to improve public awareness and promote research directed towards the diagnosis, treatment, quality of life and cure of cancer.
• Reach out to the media. You may decide to share your story through a newspaper, magazine, television, radio or other media outlet. By spreading the word about cancer, you can raise awareness and get your message out. Share short, concise statements about current cancer-related issues. Also, contact the producer to request s/he cover a specific cancer-related issue or write a letter to the editor of a newspaper (be sure to include your name, address and telephone number). Letters to the editor are widely read by the public, as well as community leaders and lawmakers.
• Network with others online. Many websites offer message boards where you can connect with cancer survivors and caregivers online (e.g., CancerCompass.com). You can also set up your own blog or join an online cancer community..
• Work to change public policy. You may also choose to speak out and work to change laws affecting people with cancer. For example, you may decide to testify at governmental hearings, speak publicly about a cancer-related policy issue or contact your lawmaker. To do that:
  • Meet with a lawmaker. Schedule an appointment with a lawmaker or staffer for a face-to-face meeting in his or her local office. During this time, you can articulate your views on how the legislation will directly affect you, your friends and your family. Remember that personal stories make an impact. Follow up your visit with a personal letter thanking the lawmaker or staffer for his or her time.
  • Send a letter to a legislator. Write a letter in support of or against debates, issues, or pending legislation at the local, state or federal level. Keep your letter short (one page) and to the point. State its purpose in the first paragraph. Tell your story and address why the bill affects you. Always be courteous (even if you disagree with your lawmaker's position) and ask for a response.
  • Call a lawmaker. Let the office know the reason you’re calling and the action you would like the lawmaker to take on as an issue or ask where your lawmaker stands on an issue. Be brief and be specific. Your call will likely last less than a minute, and chances are you won't speak directly to the lawmaker. Lawmakers are most concerned and interested in the thoughts and opinions of their constituents, so identify yourself as a constituent.