Faith, Family, and the Power of Saying Yes: Daria Ross on Turning Survivorship Into Action
Meet Daria Ross: Triple Negative Breast Cancer Survivor and Advocate whose work focuses on patient education, community-centered advocacy, and turning lived experience into policy change ...
Research Made Survival Possible: Brandon Hertzendorf on Turning Experience into Advocacy
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
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 ...
Webinar: Navigating Communication on Clinical Trials in Oncology
Effective communication between patients and oncologists is essential to ensure understanding, participation, and optimal outcomes. This webinar discusses the role of communication in clinical trial participation. Viewers will gain insight into how communication can influence trial participation, improve patient understanding, and address concerns such as eligibility, side effects, and informed ...
Janice Cowden: From Survivor to System Challenger
At Cancer Nation, we are powered by the voices of those who live with, through, and beyond cancer. We don’t speak on behalf of survivors—we amplify those who are already speaking. This month, we’re honored to feature Janice Cowden, a metastatic breast cancer (MBC) advocate whose work in research, policy, ...
From Counselor to Cancer Advocate: Arlene Kutoroff’s Journey of Strength, Intuition, and Impact
Meet Arlene Kutoroff. She’s a fiercely independent survivor and longtime volunteer advocate who channels her background in counseling into helping others navigate life after cancer ...
Gena Gurman: Bridging the Gap in Survivorship Care with Compassion, Creativity, and Cognitive Support
Meet Gena Gurman, OTDS. An occupational therapy doctoral student, Gena created a powerful new resource to help cancer survivors understand and manage cognitive changes after treatment ...
Webinar – Understanding Medicaid: What Advocates Need to Know
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) presents “Understanding Medicaid: What Advocates Need to Know.” Designed for cancer survivors, caregivers, and health care professionals, this session sheds light on Medicaid's critical role in providing health coverage to 74 million Americans, including cancer survivors and their families. During this educational webinar, ...
Two Diagnoses, One Mission: Tracy and Tim Steffek on Advocating for Survivors
Meet Tracy and Tim Steffek. After Tracy was diagnosed with breast cancer at 36—just four months postpartum—and then again with tongue cancer one year later, the couple turned their experience into action. Now, they advocate for parents with cancer, push for whole-person care, and fight to make survivorship support a ...
NCCS Announces New Elevate Ambassadors Selected to Improve Survivorship In Their Communities
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) is proud to announce the participants of the 2025 Elevating Survivorship program. After a competitive application process, NCCS selected 11 individuals from across the United States to serve as Elevate Ambassadors. The Elevate Ambassadors will receive mentorship, support, networking opportunities, and training to develop ...
