Advocacy 101: Patient and Self-Advocacy

Nick Baker, Web Experience and Content Manager
Quote from a nurse navigator about why its important to seek out second opinions

Read time: 3 minutes.  

This video covers the final part of our 3-Part Advocacy 101 series—Patient and Self-Advocacy. The LUNGevity Action Network is joined by advocate and survivor Aurora Lucas, oncology nurse navigator Kathleen Gamblin, as well as LUNGevity care navigator and social worker Angela James, to talk about becoming an effective patient or self-advocate. 

Make sure to check out the entire Advocacy 101 series: 

Some terms you will hear in this video include: 

  • Self-Advocacy – Clearly communicating with your healthcare team and support network to make sure all your needs, concerns, and goals are being considered during decision-making. 
  • Patient Advocacy – When caregivers and care partners advocate on behalf of a patient or loved one to make sure their wants and needs are heard by the healthcare team and support network. 

You can watch the entire conversation or use the timestamps below to see specific sections. If you want to get notified of similar upcoming webinars and advocacy action alerts, enter your email here.

Introduction to Patient and Self-Advocacy: 2:45-5:00 

This short introduction to patient and self-advocacy covers what it is, why it’s important, and who can get involved. It sets the stage for the following panel conversation focused on how to become an effective patient or self-advocate. 

Panel Conversation: 5:00-30:00 

This wide-ranging and information-rich conversation touches on a variety of topics, including but not limited to: 

  • Becoming a self-advocate as well as advocating for others. 
  • Barriers to patient and self-advocacy. 
  • How healthcare providers can promote and encourage patients to be open about their thoughts and feelings. 
  • Ways that care partners can get involved and support their loved ones. 

When I moved to the research hospital, I realized they really knew what they were talking about and that this was the place I needed to be. But it took me so long to get there and it was so hard for me to access that care.

Aurora Lucas, Advocate and Survivor

Audience Q&A: 30:00-41:30 

Thanks to the audience members who were able to attend this event live, we spend time answering their questions and diving deeper into specific words and actions you can take as a patient or self-advocate. Questions answered during this time include: 

  • At what point in the process should patients and care partners tell their healthcare team about their priorities and concerns? 
  • How do clinical trials play into this? 
  • What if a patient disagrees with their doctor about something? 

Patients will ask me about second opinions and be hesitant to bring them up to their doctor because they don’t want to make them angry or upset. But no doctor should ever be angry or upset that you are seeking a second opinion. This is your life.

Kathleen Gamblin, Oncology Nurse Navigator

Tips to Become a Strong Patient or Self-Advocate: 41:30-54:50 

For in-depth information about each of these tips, make sure to scroll up and watch this portion of the video. The tips covered include: 

  • Learn about lung cancer. 
  • Know your treatment options. 
  • Establish good communication with your healthcare team. 
  • Build a support network. 

Make sure to check out the entire Advocacy 101 series: 

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