Understanding and recognizing the inequities in cancer care around the globe underpins the 2022-24 World Cancer Day theme to Close the Care Gap. The needs are urgent, and the opportunity exists to make progress toward equitable cancer care for all. We must listen to the perspectives of people living with cancer and let those lived experiences guide our thoughts and actions. This is why for World Cancer Day 2022, our global team members and patients shared their ideas on how to #AmplifyOurVoice, using a megaphone to radiate their message to the world.
World Cancer Day, celebrated on February 4, is a global initiative that aims to raise awareness about cancer education, care, and prevention. The initiative is led by our friends at the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), a member-based organization whose mission is to reduce the global cancer burden and promote equity.
Our patient community provided inspiring responses to the question what do you want to say to the world about yourself?
How can we amplify the voices of our patients? Our team members have some amazing ideas:
Collective progress occurs when we start at the individual level – each of us can make a difference by amplifying our voice to bring visibility to the barriers that exist in accessing cancer care. There is always something new we can do to advocate for our patients and take action for increased access to cancer care globally:
Andrielle Yost is a Senior Program Manager at The Max Foundation. In addition to advancing global health equity, Andie is passionate about gardening, hiking, and her quest to watch all documentaries that exist.
Suddenly, I noticed a man sitting just opposite to me staring at me. I thought he was annoyed at my loud voice. so I reduced my volume and kept on talking with my friend. While explaining, my eyes went towards the man. Again I noticed he was keenly listening to our conversation.
Finally the stop came! I got down with my friend and took 10 steps. I heard a voice behind me calling “Madam, madam!”
This Thursday, 9/22, The Max Foundation and My PCR will join the global CML community in raising our collective voices in support of the needs of people living with CML worldwide. Initiated by the patient community in 2008, September 22 (9/22) has marked World CML Day because of its symbolic significance – the disease is….
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.
