Entries by Elleni

Cancer Nation Joins Amicus Brief in Suit Over Vaccine Recommendations

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Last week, Cancer Nation joined leading patient advocacy and public health organizations in supporting an amicus (or friend-of-the-court) brief urging the court to protect access to evidence-based, lifesaving vaccines. The brief emphasizes that vaccine recommendations should be evidence-based, grounded in the latest science, and informed by qualified experts to protect people with cancer and other […]

Meet the 2026 Cancer Nation Leadership Academy Ambassadors

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We are proud to welcome the 2026 Cancer Nation Leadership Academy cohort. Following a competitive application process, 12 survivors, caregivers, and health care professionals from across the country have been selected to serve as Cancer Nation Ambassadors. The Cancer Nation Leadership Academy equips Ambassadors with the skills, knowledge, and community to lead change. Each Cancer […]

From Diagnosis to Doctor: When No One Was Listening, Jesse Lindemann, MD, Became the Doctor She Needed

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Jessie Lindemann, MD, spent months being dismissed before her Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis. Now she’s a cancer survivor, family doctor, and advocate building survivorship care in North Dakota.

Introducing Cancer Nation Advocates: Turning Lived Experience Into Lasting Change

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Cancer Nation is relaunching its Cancer Policy and Advocacy Team program with a broader, more inclusive vision for the entire Cancer Nation community. This new initiative is designed to put the power of policy change directly into the hands of the people who know cancer best. Cancer Nation Advocates brings together individuals who care about […]

Research Made Survival Possible: Brandon Hertzendorf on Turning Experience into Advocacy

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Brandon Hertzendorf’s path to advocacy sits at the intersection of lived experience, research, and a deep belief that cancer care can and must be better. Born and raised in South Florida, Brandon describes his childhood as fairly typical. That changed during high school […]

The Meaning We Make: Laurel Braitman’s Path from Co-Survivor to Advocate

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Advocate Spotlight: Laurel Braitman Laurel Braitman has spent her life at the intersection of story, healing, and human connection. As a writer, teacher, and the Director of Writing and Storytelling at the Stanford School of Medicine, she helps medical students, clinicians, and future health leaders learn how to speak to patients and families with clarity […]

Statement on Dr. Richard Pazdur Being Named FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Director

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November 13, 2025 – Cancer Nation applauds the choice of Dr. Richard Pazdur as the Director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We can think of no better person than Dr. Pazdur for this position, as he will bring scientific rigor, evidence-based regulatory review, and […]