Blog
Our blog covers a wide range of topics to help support, inspire, and inform members of our community, including those who have been personally impacted by cancer. Use the search filters below to find blog posts on topics that are important to you, from wellness tips, advocacy & policy news, and cancer research findings to stories and insights shared by patients, survivors, and caregivers.

Advocate Spotlight: Michael Holtz, Knoxville, Tennessee
Each month, the Cancer Policy Insitute profiles advocates who have been engaged in advocacy in their home state, their community, with elected officials, and more. Read on to learn more about our featured advocate for the month of September and his passion to advocate for education, patient support, and policy change. If you are interested in learning more about policy, advocacy, and ways to get involved, sign up to be a part of the Grassroots Network!

Being Your Own Best Advocate: Advice from Olympic gymnast and cancer survivor, Shannon Miller
Shannon Miller is a 7-time Olympic medalist in gymnastics. She’s also a mother, an author, a dedicated health and wellness advocate - and an ovarian cancer survivor. An unexpected cancer diagnosis, and the treatment journey that followed, forced her to discover a new normal and has further fueled her passion of empowering and educating women around health and wellness. She’s partnered with TESARO and Our Way Forward to encourage patients, their loved ones and healthcare providers talk about ovarian cancer. Learn more, and read other blog perspectives at https://www.ourwayforward.com/.

Advocate Spotlight: Mirchelle Louis, Dallas, Texas
Each month, the Cancer Policy Insitute will be profiling advocates who have been engaged in advocacy in their home state, their community, with elected officials, and more. Read on to learn more about our featured advocate for the month of August and her passion for defending and increasing access to health care for all . If you are interested in learning more about policy, advocacy, and ways to get involved, sign up to be a part of the Grassroots Network!

Why We Need Greater Education Around Sarcoma
What is sarcoma and why is it sometimes called the “forgotten cancer?"

Administration’s New Rule Could Put Patients’ Health Coverage at Risk
Back in January, the Trump Administration proposed a new rule that would expand the availability of Association Health Plans (AHPs) that are exempt from regulations like the 10 essential health benefits (EHBs) set by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare). This week, the Trump Administration released a finalized policy to allow loosely affiliated business to band together as AHPs and offer plans that are not held to many important ACA consumer protections.

What Are the Unique Challenges Brain Tumor Patients and Survivors Face?
Brain cancer is a life-changing and often lethal illness that warrants our increased attention and resources. Knowledge of the brain tumor experience by a wider portion of the population is an important first step to fighting this disease.

Advocate Spotlight: Libby Mullin, Washington, D.C.
Each month, the Cancer Policy Insitute will be profiling advocates who have been engaged in advocacy in their home state, their community, with elected officials, and more. Read on to learn more about our featured advocate for the month of May and her years in advocacy on Capitol Hill and with her own consulting practice. If you are interested in learning more about policy, advocacy, and ways to get involved, sign up to be a part of the Grassroots Network!

Breaking Down Barriers in Native-American Cancer Care
Last week, two staff members of the Cancer Support Community (CSC) traveled to Tuba City, Arizona, the largest community on the Navajo Nation and home to more than 8,600 people. There, they met with Navajo and Hopi leaders to learn about the unique challenges facing Native-Americans and their access to cancer care. The following is a Q-and-A with programs and services manager Katie Dimond about her experience in Arizona. It is a first in a series of new CSC programs working with Navajo Nation leaders, medical leaders, and other advocates to create a ground-breaking movement for cancer support and treatment on the largest American Indian Reservation.

Copay Accumulator Programs: What’s at Stake for Patients?
A new type of policy has been introduced that has the potential to put cancer patients at serious financial risk. You may not have heard of copay accumulators or accumulator adjustment programs before, so this blog will provide an overview of these policies to help prepare you in case you might be at risk of facing this barrier to affordable cancer care.

Advocate Spotlight: Lee Tomlinson, Los Angeles, California
Each month, the Cancer Policy Insitute will be profiling advocates who have been engaged in advocacy in their home state, their community, with elected officials, and more. Read on to learn more about our featured advocate for the month of April and his passion for promoting patient-centered, heart-driven compassionate care. If you are interested in learning more about policy, advocacy, and ways to get involved, sign up to be a part of the Grassroots Network!