Independent Cancer Patients' Voice

General information

Our aim is to improve existing treatments for every cancer patient and develop new treatments by bringing the patients’ voice into clinical research.

We do this by:
1.educating, supporting and mentoring patients so that they can have an equal voice with clinicians and researchers and
2.bringing the patients’ voice to clinicians and researchers – i.e. by being patient advocates in clinical research so that this research takes into account the patients’ (and carers, relatives etc) viewpoint to improve outcomes (cancer mortality, morbidity, quality of life) for all people affected by cancer (patients, relatives, carers).

We are informed and committed patient advocates and we can play an increasingly effective role in educating both potential patients and professional staff as to the benefits of clinical trials and research.
The core members of our group are located throughout the UK and we have a good mix of business, healthcare and scientific knowledge and experience. We also have a strong network of individuals and groups of cancer (and non-cancer) patients to help us to determine the research questions that cancer patients would like answered and to raise the profile of clinical trials among the patient community and thus increase accrual as well as improve outcomes for future patients.
We have an active online discussion group and members where members can exchange views and review research papers.
We have the full support of the professional members of the NCRI Breast Clinical Study Group (and from many research centres) with a keen interest in teaching us at study days on the science/biology/genetics of cancer and the development of new treatments.