ASCO and ASCO members work hand-in-hand with patient advocates to address a wide array of issues affecting people with cancer, including the advancement of cancer research, legislative and regulatory matters related to cancer care and research, improving the quality of cancer care, raising public awareness of the disease, and providing support to those living with cancer. Whether advocates are operating from an individual or organizational level, locally or nationally, ASCO supports their efforts and offers opportunities and resources to promote all types of advocacy for people with cancer. Independent of their particular focus, patient advocates share a common goal with ASCO: addressing the needs and concerns of people with cancer and ultimately accelerating progress against cancer.

ASCO Programs for Patient Advocates

ASCO's mission has always centered on improving the treatment and care of people living with cancer. This mission includes serving not only the educational needs of the professional oncology community, but also the educational needs of the patient and survivor communities as well. As such, ASCO provides the opportunity for advocates to attend the ASCO Annual Meeting and ASCO Symposia to gain the education, knowledge, and skills necessary to participate in the cancer research process. ASCO meetings also enable advocacy organizations to promote their programs, services, and resources to the professional oncology community. As an added benefit, ASCO meetings are great places for advocates to network with one another as well as with oncology professionals.

ASCO's Annual Meeting Patient Advocate Programs have developed significantly over the past 7 years to reflect the Society's commitment to working with the advocacy community. Approximately 350 patient advocates attended the 2010 ASCO Annual Meeting, representing well over 100 patient advocacy organizations. Twenty organizations exhibited in the ASCO-sponsored Patient Advocacy Booth, prominently situated at the front of the Oncology Professionals Hall. Established in 1992, this booth allows organizations to promote their mission and programs to meeting attendees. In addition, about 30 other patient advocacy organizations exhibit at each ASCO Annual Meeting.

Beyond exhibit opportunities, programs offered for advocates at ASCO's Annual Meeting include:

• A teleconference for patient advocates that takes place in mid-May, highlighting studies that will be presented at the meeting and answering advocates' questions related to the research
• Discounted registration rate
• Discounted subscription to ­ASCO's Virtual Meeting and Podcast
• Research Review Sessions, during which ASCO members review disease-specific topics presented at the meeting, explain how the research is relevant to patients, and answer questions
• Patient advocate scholarships, made possible by The ASCO Cancer Foundation
• A lounge for patient advocates

ASCO Resources for Patient Advocates

One of ASCO's shared goals with the patient advocacy community is to increase the accessibility of accurate and current information to people living with cancer.

ASCO's doctor-approved patient information website, Cancer.Net, includes a section dedicated to Advocacy and Policy. Here, visitors can learn about ASCO's programs for patient advocates, read about what it means to be a cancer advocate, find information about current policy issues, and learn how to effectively communicate with elected officials.

A comprehensive section lists Cancer-Specific Resources-national, not-for-profit organizations that provide additional information, services, and support. The Cancer News and Meetings section includes easy-to-read summaries that put top scientific news from ASCO meetings into context for patients. Videos and podcasts with national and international cancer experts are included as well, breaking down the science into specific disease areas and explaining what the studies mean for people with cancer.

These and other resources are freely available on Cancer.Net. Additional information about ASCO's patient advocate programs can be obtained by contacting patientadvocates@asco.org. ■

© 2010. American Society of Clinical Oncology. All Rights Reserved.