Lived Experience Matters in Cancer Care and Research
Patient engagement plays a crucial role in improving cancer care and research through programs like the Patient and Family Engagement initiative.
This program allows patients and caregivers to share their experiences and provide insights on how to enhance patient care.
Recently, the program has expanded to match patient advocates with researchers, aiming to design more authentic and participant-friendly clinical trials and studies.
- Some patients become advocates after a positive experience, such as early diagnosis and successful treatment.
- Others get involved due to negative experiences, like misdiagnosis or ineffective care.
For example, Brandelyn Bergstedt, director of Fred Hutch Cancer Center’s Patient Experience Program, became a patient advocate after a personal experience with misdiagnosis during pregnancy.
Author's summary: Patient engagement enhances cancer care through shared experiences.