The physical space of the MSK Library is permanently closed to visitors as of Friday, May 17, 2024. Please visit this guide for more information.
ANNOUNCEMENT: The physical space of the MSK Library at 430 E 67th St has closed to visitors effective Friday, May 17, 2024 in preparation for the construction of MSK's new cancer care Pavilion. Please visit this guide for more information.
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Self advocacy refers to an individual's ability to clearly communicate their own desires, needs, and rights, and is an important concept for people impacted by cancer. People with cancer can be self-advocates by communicating with their health care team about their wants and future wishes. Examples of this include therapeutic treatments, resuscitation or CPR orders, and palliative care. Self advocacy also includes things like having your doctor explain your treatment in a way you can understand and being clear to family, friends, and caregivers about your wishes if you are unable to speak for yourself.
Patient & Community Education has a resource which explores this: A Guide for Adolescents and Young Adults (AYAs): How To Be a Self-Advocate.
There are many reasons why your personal experience with cancer may make you interested in advocacy. Being a cancer advocate can take the forms of:
There can be a lot of overlap between the two, and both involve an individual or group raising awareness on key topics to make a change, be it mindsets, legislation, or funding. Here are a few places to start if this interests you:
Public Policy Advocacy
Research Advocacy
There are sometimes disparities, known as differences or inequalities, between population groups who have cancer.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) on their page Cancer Disparities gives examples of these groups as those "defined by race, ethnicity, disability, gender identity, geographic location, income, education, age, sexual orientation, national origin, and other characteristics."
Addressing these disparities and achieving health equity, where everyone has the opportunity to prevent and treat their cancers, can involve advocacy.
Advance care planning means being an advocate for yourself, and making sure you have thought about and written down how you feel about your future health care. Patient & Community Education provides the following to help you explore how to plan for a time when you are not able to make or communicate choices.
Part of self advocacy is understanding your treatment and care, and knowing your options, even if treatment is stopped. Here are different types of care you may experience as a patient.