Co-creation of a patient engagement strategy in cancer research funding.

Background: As research teams, networks, and institutes, and health, medical, and scientific communities begin to build consensus on the benefits of patient engagement in cancer research, research funders are increasingly looking to meaningfully incorporate patient partnership within funding processes and research requirements. The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS), the largest non-profit cancer research funder in Canada, set out to co-create a patient engagement in cancer research strategy with patients, survivors, caregivers and researchers. The goal of this strategy was to meaningfully and systematically engage with patients in research funding and research activities.

Supporting People and Their Caregivers Living with Advanced Cancer: From Individual Experience to a National Interdisciplinary Program.

Objectives: To discuss the unmet needs of patients living with advanced cancer and their caregivers and to review strategies, including collaborating with community and non-profit organizations, to help improve the experience of living with, and beyond, advanced cancer.

Data Sources: Published articles, first person experience (SB), community organization input, and survey data (Canadian Cancer Society).

Conclusion: People living with advanced cancer face significant challenges, including persistent physical symptoms and psychosocial concerns, difficulties with coordination of care, and possible lack of available resources and supports if the person is no longer being followed by cancer health care professionals.