UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

In many low- and middle-income countries, prejudice and discrimination prevail due to ignorance, cultural and traditional lifestyle influences. As a result of negative attitudes, cancer survivors are facing isolation and social rejection.

Negative attitudes can be dealt with by educating the public. For example, story telling, which is a traditional approach in many low- and middle-income countries can be implemented in the form of testimonies narrated by cancer survivors who are able to educate the public. Anecdotes can be used to convey factual information to the public who are made conscious of their rights and liberties.

This paper describes the experience of cancer survivors, particularly in low- and middle-income countries initiating and collaborating to make positive changes to improve the quality of care for the population at large. By and large, the personal experience of the cancer survivor is the starting point for embarking on advocacy movement. Speaking for oneself through one's personal experience elicits a different kind of passion, conviction and perseverance.

The advocacy movement in many low- and middle-income countries ranges from guiding the patient through her treatment process to engaging in negotiations with the local authorities. The advocate helps the patient to understand and maximize the use of health care services. Campaigns are led where cancer survivors narrate their cancer experience to relatives, colleagues and neighbors. In accordance with the reach to recovery concept one's personal cancer experience can be used to enable others to receive accessible and affordable healthcare services. Whilst the movement is very informal and ad-hoc, there are efforts to develop organized activism to deal with inadequacies in the healthcare and social systems. Engaging legislators to introduce and change policies is a fairly new development in many low- and middle-income countries.