Dear Catherine,
As millions of people do each year in Washington, DC, I was recently walking through our beautiful cherry blossoms which bound the Tidal Basin. Surrounded by the stately memorials—Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson, FDR—I am always particularly struck by the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial. Open to the public since 2011, this stunning structure is the first memorial on the National Mall honoring an African American. Dr. King was only the fourth non-President to receive the honor. If you’ve visited this memorial you know that Dr. King’s “Stone of Hope” is surrounded by his most famous quotes. As I was reading them, I realized that one of my favorite quotes was not included—and I immediately thought of the opportunity to share it with my fellow advocates: “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.”
As advocates, particularly with and on behalf of cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers, Dr. King’s sentiment should be at the heart of all that we do. It serves as a reminder to me that cancer care must be high-quality, accessible, affordable, and equitable. At the Cancer Policy Institute (CPI), our goal is to work alongside patients, amplifying their voices in policy making and ensuring that their best interests are protected. We appreciate all that you do and we are proud to work alongside you to realize Dr. King’s vision of a health care system that provides for all people.
We hope you find this month’s newsletter helpful to your efforts. From an advocate whose passion is unparalleled to a deep dive on a policy issue that could have serious financial consequences for patients, our goal is both to inspire and inform you as you take action. Thank you for all that you do.
Advocate Spotlight: Lee Tomlinson, Los Angeles, California
"Socrates once said, “Be kind. Everyone is fighting a great battle.” Compassion heals and compassion begets compassion. By practicing compassion for one’s fellow man who suffers, we inspire more compassion, which inspires even more compassion and it need never end. If you want to be a “patient advocate,” DO IT."
Read more from Lee about his drive for promoting patient-centered, heart-driven, compassionate care.
Copay Accumulator Programs: What's at Stake for Patients?
A new type of policy has been introduced that has the potential to put cancer patients at serious financial risk. You may not have heard of copay accumulators or accumulator adjustment programs before, so this blog will provide an overview of these policies to help prepare you in case you might be at risk of facing this barrier to affordable cancer care.
Frankly Speaking about Cancer
Frankly Speaking About Cancer® is the Cancer Support Community’s landmark cancer education series that provides trusted information on a variety of topics important to people affected by cancer. Among these free resources, CSC has recently developed a Tips for Managing and Budgeting Your Cancer Costs booklet to help you understand your options, know what questions to ask, and take control of your treatment and costs. This booklet contains a budgeting worksheet that can help you calculate the total estimated cost of your cancer - including insurance coverage, treatment, change in income, and other household costs.
Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week
April 1st-7th is designated as Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week. Adolescents and Young Adults (AYAs) with cancer face a whole new set of fears after they’ve finished treatment. We published two blogs on our website written by young adult cancer survivors to learn more about their unique experiences and challenges when undergoing treatment and learning to navigate life going forward. Read Miranda's story about the need for improved survivorship resources and Olivia's story about the resources that offered her hope throughout her treatment.
For breaking updates on health policy news and opportunities to engage, follow us on Twitter! Click on the Twitter icon or find us @CSCCancerPolicy
Cancer Support Community
“So that No One Faces Cancer Alone”
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