In Latin America, the Maximize Life Campaign has become something like a tradition – a time when each patient organization creates an event or activity of their choice and powers it up for a campaign that takes on a life of its own!
13 patient groups from 11 Latin American countries joined this year’s movement, bringing together patients and caregivers with the purpose of telling the community that cancer is an issue, that ignoring it is not going to make it go away, and that the best approach is to learn about it in order to know what to do about it. From governments to the general public, everybody can get involved in figuring out how to treat cancer patients as members of society and not as a burden.
The 13 Maximize Life Campaign events happening throughout Latin America are varied, and they go from meetings that aim to raise awareness in patients and their family members, such as those taking place in Argentina, Nicaragua and Honduras, to larger scale, community involving events, like those happening in Peru and Ecuador. Patients in Chile, Peru and Mexico have perfected a stage play for children with the story of Maximo and the Big C, Ecuador will organize their customary walk through the city with all types of cancer patients and, in Colombia, children going through treatment will be treated to an afternoon of fun and games, and the message that they are not alone.
Other events include promoting the campaign in non-central cities where access to information and support is rare (Guatemala), Maximo storytelling (Costa Rica), visits to the zoo (Dominican Republic), and others.
But all these events have something in common: plenty of helpful information – both scientific and practical, volunteers giving their time and efforts in order to make the activities and success, and the message that cancer can be fought, with everyone pulling in the same direction.
Mercedes lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina where she uses her Psychology Degree to support patients throughout Latin America.
October is here! And with the changing of the seasons comes the official start of the 2016 Maximize Life Global Cancer Awareness Campaign! Energy and excitement are growing as over 40 Max Global Network partners across Latin America, Asia and Africa prepare to host multiple awareness events throughout the month in an effort to support and raise awareness about the needs of people living with cancer.
Health systems around the world are strained due to the high burden of costs. In an attempt to guide decision-makers in their choices on behalf of patients, the topic of value frameworks was born. These value frameworks evaluate all aspects of cancer treatment: clinical benefit, side effects, and improvement in patient symptoms or quality of life. But given the complexities of the multitude of health systems around the world, it is not a straightforward discussion. And right now, it’s a dialogue driven by thought leaders and health economists from the US and Europe. But there are critical voices is missing from this discussion: patients and patient advocates.
During this Thanksgiving holiday in the US, we take time to reflect and give thanks with family and friends. We extend a most heartfelt thank you to our donors, partners, our global team, and community. Each of you is part of our patients’ journey, and we are thankful for your support and friendship. We look forward to continuing our journey together, and hope you will continue to follow our patients’ journeys in the coming year.
