This paper will present the multiple roles and the impact of cancer advocates. advocates have been the traveling push behind pivotal general public health campaigns [19]. The past 2 decades in particular possess brought about the formation of national and local advocacy companies with wide variability in size and scope. Individually and as a collective these advocacy organizations have been particularly successful at raising public and political awareness calling attention to improved requirements Cediranib (AZD2171) and accountability for quality care and plans and elevating BC as the eminent general public health priority for women in the U.S. [20 21 Self-advocacy community advocacy and general public interest advocacy represent the key components of the advocacy continuum [22]. In concert with the evolving demands of the patient and the public health effect of BC the part of advocacy may develop from functioning at the individual level (e.g. malignancy individuals and caregivers) to operating at the community (e.g. malignancy support groups patient advocacy companies (PAOs)) and systemic (national cancer advocacy companies (CAOs)) levels [23]. Cediranib (AZD2171) Consequently tumor Cediranib Cediranib (AZD2171) (AZD2171) advocates can have a far-reaching effect influencing important players at multiple levels to improve tumor prevention and control with a special emphasis on improving patient health results [24]. Self-Advocacy Self-advocacy is definitely carried out as the malignancy survivor joins and maintains an integral part as an active member of the healthcare team. Self-advocacy requires patient education and activation such that the understanding of diagnosis treatment options treatments received and potential treatment side effects lead Cediranib (AZD2171) to effective disease self-management patient-provider communication and shared medical decision-making [25 26 In addition self-advocating survivors are well-acquainted with follow-up care recommendations health advisories (e.g. healthy lifestyle methods) and strategies for improving quality of life. Greater self-advocacy results in improved quality of care [27] better psychosocial adjustment and adaptation to malignancy and an enhanced overall survivorship encounter [26 28 Malignancy care education and self-advocacy skills units can enable malignancy survivors to conquer unique barriers (e.g. discrimination and stigmatization) [29] fostering self-care sign management and coping [30]. However the performance of self-advocacy depends greatly upon the survivor’s level of empowerment [22] and is affected by numerous factors including personal characteristics and technical skills the complexity of the patient’s illness [29 31 32 and availability and utilization of various forms of support [28]. Consequently in addition to self-advocacy education and teaching some cancer individuals and survivors may benefit from broader empowerment strategies and support. This support may entail implementation of survivorship care plans [12 33 peer support [22 34 and professional counseling and navigation [35] to direct individuals to survivorship resources and to help them navigate through an progressively complicated and expensive health-care system [36]. Rabbit Polyclonal to AKAP13. A fully activated self-advocate is definitely often savvy about resources related to study engagement and participation to increase the potential personal benefit but more often to increase the voice of additional affected persons to enhance their benefit from medical advancement. Community Advocacy: “Advocacy for others” Community advocacy refers to the actions of individuals and organizations on behalf of cancer individuals survivors and caregivers [37 38 Advocates at the community level include individuals family members friends and caregivers as well as healthcare experts and experts [26]. In the healthcare arena many private hospitals and organizations have developed patient advocacy programs with nurses sociable workers patient navigators and lay community members carrying out the advocacy part to improve patient-oriented results (e.g. health literacy clinical study participation rates survival rates) [39 40 Need for improved BC advocacy in the African American community African American BCS may have unique support and advocacy needs [14 34 41 For.