The Importance of Political Advocacy
to Protect Cancer Patients
Doctors
Who Care
“There is nothing more important to me
as a physician than your cancer treatment.
I’ve been in practice for over two
decades and have had the privilege of
telling many patients that there is life
beyond cancer. As president of The Center
for Cancer and Blood Disorders, I want to
lead by example, practicing a firm belief
that all patients should receive the finest
medical care available, with the same
concern and compassion as a cherished
member of the family.”
Ray Page, D.O., Ph.D.
President and Medical Oncologist
The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
I just want to mention a few points that I spoke about at the COA
conference. First of all, not everybody is cut out for political advocacy,
and that is OK! To be fully engaged it takes long, hard, difficult, and
tedious work. Further, it can often take years of effort, with compro-
mises, in order to achieve your goals. However, to start an advocacy
movement it only requires ONE person in a practice or group. That
person just needs to get one other person engaged in the movement
and you are off and running. You can really get a lot done with just
a small number of committed people, as they will represent a large
practice or bigger organization.
With that being said, without a doubt, the most important person on
the cancer advocacy team is the actual cancer PATIENT. When you
have a cancer patient who is a constituent to the congressmen and
makes a visit to tell a compelling personal story, it is then that political
action has a chance.
When a cancer patient is face to face and says “as a result of our laws,
I am being harmed, I cannot get access to lifesaving care, I cannot
afford my drugs, I am being financially devastated” or “I had to
LITERALLY sell the farm to get the cancer care I needed” – THAT is
what moves our lawmakers.
At The Center we are very excited about adding engaged patients with
compelling stories to our advocacy team.
Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly
you are doing the impossible. -St. Francis of Assisi
Schedule appointments by calling
817-596-0637 or online at
www.thecentertx.com
Support services provided by:
To learn more about cancer care issues or to consult with a physician
about a cancer diagnosis, contact us at 817.596.0637.
There was a time when just about everyone had a regular family doctor who
treated just about everything from headaches and broken arms to menopause and
arthritis.
Today, most of us still have regular family physicians, but the majority of people
see specialists for any special health challenges.
The result? Patients these days are more discerning, better educated and more
astute than ever before. They know finding the best doctor for their specific health
challenges and needs can lead to greater quality of life and often even a longer one.
Peruse our healthcare section and find the doctor who is the perfect fit for your
medical needs.
Healthcare Special Section
We are very excited at The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, as
we recently became the first community oncology practice in Texas to
establish a COA Patient Advocacy Network (CPAN). We had a very
successful launch at our main cancer center in Fort Worth. Many pa-
tients were interested and engaged about getting into advocacy efforts.
We sent 3 of our patients - Tami Ramey, Terry Purdom, and Holly
Lawson – with me to Washington. Along with Amanda Hodges and
John Clagg, they visited the offices of John Cornyn, Kay Granger,
Mike Burgess, and Joe Barton. They spoke specifically about cancer
patient issues such as drug prices and access to care.
Swaying politicians and policymakers into creating and endorsing
new favorable laws, particularly in our federal congress, is an ex-
tremely arduous and frustrating process. It seems nothing ever moves
quickly or in the direction that you desire. Often, as a physician
leader, it seems that it makes no difference how credentialed, accom-
plished and knowledgeable a person is. You can provide overwhelm-
ing data, statistics, publications, projections, and examples until the
point of exhaustion and, yet, there is only a palpable nudge that you
made the connection.
Welcome to Parker County Today’s
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In April, I was at the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) Annual
Conference in Washington, D.C. where I gave a presentation on
“Advocacy 101: What we stand for”.
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