Advocacy Opportunities

Ways to Get Involved

Welcome to NCCS’s Advocacy Opportunities page, your go-to resource for staying informed about the latest engagement opportunities in the cancer community. Whether you are a patient, survivor, caregiver, or advocate, there are many ways you can get involved and make a difference.

This page provides a list of upcoming events, webinars, conferences, and advocacy campaigns from NCCS and other leading cancer organizations. From policy initiatives and surveys to educational webinars, there are opportunities for everyone to get involved.

At NCCS, we are committed to providing resources and support to those who want to make a difference. Whether you are looking to volunteer your time, share your story, or advocate for change, we are here to help.

Browse our list of advocacy opportunities today and find your perfect way to get involved.

NCCS EVENTS

Virtual CPAT Symposium 2024

Virtual Symposium

Virtual Cancer Policy & Advocacy Team (CPAT) Symposium
September 6, 2024
1-4 PM ET

Save the Date!

NCCS’s Virtual CPAT Symposium is Friday, September 6 from 1-4pm ET. Virtual CPAT is an opportunity to network with other advocates, develop advocacy skills, and learn about cancer policy issues from the comfort of your own home.

Registration will open soon!

COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES

GRASP: Guiding Researchers and Advocates to Scientific Partnerships

Webinars & Community

GRASP Huddles were developed when the demand for more interactions between patients and researchers went beyond the Poster Walkthroughs GRASP offers at cancer conferences.

Huddles are freestanding patient- or researcher-initiated virtual discussions between patient advocates and experts in the field. Because the science does not stop when a conference ends, Huddles occur throughout the year and are unassociated with conferences.

View the schedule.

Black Wo(Men) Speak: Amplify the Conversation on Improving Access to Clinical Trials

Webinar

Join the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance on Thursday, August 22, from 12:30 PM to 1:45 PM ET for a webinar that amplifies the conversations from the 2022 Black Wo(Men) Speak Symposium on improving access to clinical trials for people living with metastatic breast cancer.
Invited Speakers:
-Rev. Dr. Tawana Angela Davis, Soul 2 Soul Sisters
-Tammie Denyse, MCL, MDiv, PhD (Hon), Carrie’s Touch
-Ricki Fairley, TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance
-Tisha Felder, PhD, MSW, Biobehavioral Health & Nursing Science College of Nursing, University of South Carolina
-Marissa Thomas, For the Breast of Us
-Valarie Worthy, MSN, RN, Duke Cancer Institute
Co-hosts: Stephanie Walker, MBCA Individual Member & Stephanie McCoy Ph.D., MPH, MPS, CHES®, Susan G. Komen
Moderator: Dr. Tisha FelderThe goals of this 75-minute webinar are to highlight learnings from BECOME & the 2022 Black Wo(Men) Speak Symposium, amplify efforts since that event, and identify opportunities and next steps. Speaker updates will be followed by a moderated roundtable discussion and Q&A.

Learn more and Register.

A Fresh Chapter: Where Do I Go From Here?

Webinar

Where Do I Go From Here? 
 
When life isn’t working out the way we’d hoped, we may desire to make a change—but what does that look like? In this workshop, we’ll explore what we can control when it comes to our challenges, gain an understanding of the concept of pivoting, and consider how we can take action in our lives to forge a new path – whether living with or beyond cancer.
About A Fresh Chapter’s Empower Workshops:
The emotional challenges of cancer are as unique as you are. Regardless of your age, race, stage of cancer, or life circumstances, there is no quick fix to dealing with the uncertainty that comes along with cancer. But, it can help to know that you’re not alone in it.
AFC’s Empower Workshops are designed to offer you tools, resources, and support to help you balance both cancer and life. Through Empower, we won’t be sharing our diagnosis and treatment stories or learning about the science of cancer. This is not a typical support group or patient education session. This is also not therapy or intended to replace therapy. Empower Workshops are one-time, short-form programs that connect you to others who can relate to what you’ve been through and offer you new tools and points of view to help you find ways to thrive – even when life is difficult.

SPAACES: Sustaining Physical Activity After Cancer Exercise Sessions

Research Study

Join the SPAACES study to help researchers understand the best way to help maintain a physical activity routine.

The aim of this study is to examine the feasibility and effects of a 12-week maintenance intervention on physical activity levels six months after completing a community-based exercise oncology program. Research will consist of physical assessments, activity monitoring, questionnaires, exercise and discussion sessions, and an optional focus group.

Three months after the program ends, you will be recontacted to participate in a three-month physical activity maintenance intervention, for a total study participation time of 9-months. There will be a total of four study visits, and they will take place at or near the location of the community-based exercise oncology program that you participate in and/or virtually.

You may be eligible if:

  • Planning to participate in STAC, BfitBwell, or Fit Cancer programs
  • You have been diagnosed with any type of cancer
  • You have completed primary cancer treatment within the past 5 years

There is no cost to participate and you will be compensated for your time to participate in this study. You will also receive study branded items such as a water bottle and tote bag.

Learn more.

University of Virginia Comprehensive Cancer Center: Community-Based Health Equity Research Program – weSurvive Study

Research Study

The University of Virginia Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Community-Based Health Equity Research Program  is testing an innovative program to help rural cancer survivors improve their quality of life by helping them engage in healthful eating and activity habits.

Details: weSurvive is specifically designed for cancer survivors living in rural Appalachia regions or nearby countiesweSurvive was developed due to the disproportionate impact of cancer in rural Appalachia communities, as well as the limited access to evidence-based programs for cancer survivors in the region.

See the study flyer for further details. Scan the QR code or contact Kathleen Porter, PhD via email at kjporter@virginia.edu, or call (434) 235-1112 to learn more and join.

Staying Connected through Communication Survey

Paid Online Survey/Research

Paid online survey about communication experiences – for US residents only

Staying Connected through Communication Survey

The University of Washington SPEAC Lab is inviting individuals who have had a total laryngectomy to answer survey questions about their communication experiences. Participants are invited to nominate at least one family member, friend, or coworker to also answer survey questions. People with total laryngectomy and their family / friends / coworkers will complete SEPARATE surveys. Your participation will help healthcare providers support people with laryngectomy and the important people in their lives to stay connected through communication. This is an online survey study that will take about 30-45 minutes. We can also mail a paper survey if requested.

Each participant will be mailed a $25 check upon survey completion.

To participate, click here: https://redcap.link/stayingconnected
The person with the laryngectomy needs to start first and then nominate their family member / friend /coworker to participate.

For more information, visit: https://sites.uw.edu/speaclab/

For questions, please contact: speaclab@uw.edu

Poor Sleep During Treatment for Blood Cancer: NIH Study

Research Study

Are you receiving treatment for a blood cancer diagnosis and struggling with poor sleep? You may be eligible to participate in a NIH-funded study for blood cancer patients with poor sleep. Dr. Ruben Mesa and Dr. Jennifer Huberty of Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio are conducting a 20-week research study that aims to test a digital health wellness intervention among adult blood cancer patients that are currently undergoing treatment.

Participation involves:
• Completing online surveys
• Wearing a sleep device on index finger and tracking nightly sleep
• Providing 3 blood samples at a nearby lab
• Being randomized to use one of two wellness apps
• Using wellness app 10 minutes per day for 8 weeks

They are looking for US based adults with a blood cancer diagnosis to enroll in a 20 week remote study of an app based wellness intervention. Participants can earn up to $100 for completing all study related measures.

Learn more.

Baylor University — AYA Research Opportunity

Research Study

Baylor University is inviting individuals who are Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) cancer survivors to participate in a research study about the care they received. This study is specifically for AYA patients who were diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 15 to 39 and are now 18 years of age or older. The questionnaire will take around 10 minutes to complete. Kindly use the provided questionnaire link below:

https://baylor.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9Hzz3LDmoWL3jGC

For more information, contact rebecca_munoz1@baylor.edu »

National Cancer Plan

Digital Toolkit

The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Nation Cancer Plan now has a Digital Toolkit for advocates and advocacy organizations that would like to show support for the National Cancer Plan.

Learn more and get involved here »

American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)

Online Training

Would you like to learn more about American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) cancer survivorship care guidelines? Look no further than the GW Cancer Center’s free, on-line training! It will introduce you to guidelines addressing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy management, fertility preservation, and osteoporosis management in adult survivors with nonmetastatic disease.

Sign up today »

Survey Opportunity — Providers and Adult Cancer Survivors

Survey Opportunity

The University of South Carolina invites you to participate in a study to better understand stakeholders knowledge related to cancer related fatigue. This study is for healthcare providers who treat those with cancer or adults with a current or previous diagnosis of cancer.  The survey will last approximately 5 minutes. Please use the appropriate survey link provided below:

Healthcare provider:

https://redcap.healthsciencessc.org/surveys/?s=EJ38EWJD3NTNXDL4

Adult with a current or previous cancer diagnosis:

https://redcap.healthsciencessc.org/surveys/?s=3YM7CJTK7PFFE4ET