Be A Patient Advocate

Many organizations involved in brain tumor treatment, research and funding invite brain tumor survivors, caregivers and family members to participate in their decision making processes as patient advocates. These include:

• NCI - Cancer Advocates in Research and Related Activites
• FDA Patient Representative Program
• New Approaches to Brain Tumor Therapy
• North American Brain Tumor Consortium
• Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium

Opportunities to serve as an advocate in these organizations come on an occasional basis. Check the news sections of their websites, subscribe to their newsletters, or check back here with Brain Tumor Action Network so that you’ll know when applications are being accepted for these positions.

The Brain Tumor Progress Review Group (BTPRG) convened in 2000 to identify unmet opportunities and needs in the area of brain tumor research and to develop a national plan of action of research. The BTAN supports advocacy efforts to follow the recommendations of the BT-PRG.

Susan Weiner, PhD., one of the participants in the BTPRG, has written an insightful article on advocacy, Increasing the Reach: National Advocacy and the CBTF, describing advocacy efforts of the CBTF and the North American Brain Tumor Coalition.