why Cancer Advocacy
Overview
Presently, the cancer patient is often excluded from decision making processes that have a direct impact on his/her disease treatment.
It is therefore vital for South Africans affected by cancer to actively manage their own quality of care. This involves empowering yourself by taking control of your health, understanding your options and lobbying for healthcare improvements.
This is illustrated by our co-founder, Samantha Galliet' personal journey.
This 33-year-old breast cancer survivor made headlines with her "David and Goliath" battle to get life-saving treatment paid for by her medical aid. Via active campaigning, strong media interest in her story and finally, a legal battle - Samantha made history in securing payment for the required treatment. In Samantha's experience she found the reality faced by a patient with regards to communication disjointed and difficult to navigate.
“Once a diagnosis of cancer is made, patients are often inundated with an avalanche of information and options. Taking care of your cancer requires many activities a patient may have never considered doing in the past: researching, sometimes arguing with insurance companies, searching out professionals that can treat your cancer, finding financial resources; and upholding your legal rights.” says Samantha
But, in South Africa, very little is understood around true cancer advocacy and its potential benefits to the healthcare sector and the cancer patient.
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