Hashtag
Men's Weekly

New report by the Lung Cancer Education and Advocacy for Patients highlights role of patient advocacy in providing better care for patients

Report outlines the key challenges and opportunities and recommendations to empower Asian advocates in lung cancer

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 1 August 2024 - A white paper released by the Lung Cancer Education and Advocacy for Patients (LEAP) has highlighted the importance of enhancing patient advocacy in lung cancer, alongside key challenges and opportunities in this space in Singapore.

The report, titled Empowering Asian Lung Cancer Advocates, draws on global best practices as well as insights from the Hopeful Voices Patient Advocate Roundtable Meeting, hosted by Lung Cancer Education and Advocacy for Patients (LEAP) and the Lung Cancer Consortium Singapore (LCCS) in late 2023.

During roundtable discussions attended by lung cancer patients and their families, several key priorities in the lung cancer care continuum were identified:

1. Increasing the influence of patient advocates in decision-making and healthcare service development

2. Improving early-stage lung cancer diagnoses by raising awareness or improving access to early screening.

3. Improving access to innovative treatments and diagnostics.

Lung cancer remains the most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide, representing about 12.4% of all cases in 2022. It is the primary cause of cancer-related deaths globally, with over 1.8 million fatalities annually[1]. In Singapore, it is the third most common cancer and leading cause of cancer deaths[2]. With ageing populations in Asia, more people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer. Inevitably, they and their caregivers, as well as their healthcare teams may encounter challenges across the cancer care continuum, including education, screening, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, rehabilitation, and end-of-life care[3].

Dr Teh Yi Lin, Medical Oncologist and Lead for LEAP said, "Robust support services, such as medical treatment support, psychosocial care, and educational resources, are essential to ensure that lung cancer patients and their loved ones are well-informed and supported. Patient advocates play a pivotal role in helping to ensure that there is effective support for those affected by cancer."

The white paper outlines actionable recommendations for patient advocacy groups to address the issued identified and enhance lung cancer advocacy in Singapore. They include:

1. Enhancing patient advocacy for better cancer care

  • Foster empowered communities: Build and support communities that provide evidence-based information, psychosocial support, and financial guidance to help patients and families manage the complexities of their cancer journey
  • Utilise social networks and media platforms for engagement: Develop and leverage social media and traditional media platforms to connect patients and advocates, enabling them to share experiences, personal stories and advice to raise public awareness.
  • Integrate patient insights in research: Collaborate with researchers to integrate patient needs and perspectives in clinical trials and studies
  • Advocacy training and mentorship: Offer training and mentorship programs to equip individuals with the skills needed for effective advocacy
2. Advocate for better access to lung cancer screening
  • Increase public awareness and participation: Implement broad education campaigns and community outreach to increase awareness of lung cancer risks and the benefits of early screening.
  • Policy advocacy for screening access: Establish strong partnerships between patient advocacy groups, scientists, and policy-makers to keep up-to-date with the latest scientific findings on the importance of lung cancer screening.
3. Advocate for better access to potentially life-saving treatments and clinical trials
  • Raise public awareness and educate patients: Collaborate with healthcare professionals to inform patients about the availability of new treatments and companion diagnostic tests to improve early detection and diagnosis.
  • Lower financial barriers: Work towards ensuring access to treatments and diagnostic tests and reducing the financial burden on patients.
  • Facilitate clinical trial participation: Increase public and patient education on the benefits of participating in clinical trials.
The white paper is supported by AstraZeneca. For more information and to download the full white paper, please visit http://lccs.com.sg/leap


[1] Bray F, Laversanne M, Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Soerjomataram I, Jemal A. Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2024.

[2] Ferlay J EM, Lam F, Laversanne M, Colombet M, Mery L, Piñeros M, Znaor A, Soerjomataram I, Bray F (2024). Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer. Available from: https://gco.iarc.who.int/today.

[3] National Cancer Institute. Cancer Control Continuum. Division of Cancer Control & Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health; 2022 Available from: https://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/about-dccps/about-cc/cancer-control-continuum.


Hashtag: #LEAP #lungcancer #patientadvocacy

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About LEAP

Lung Cancer Education and Advocacy for Patients (LEAP) was established in 2019 with the aim of advancing lung cancer care in partnership with patients, their caregivers, and the wider community. LEAP promotes lung cancer awareness to patients and the public through regular educational activities and campaigns. LEAP also provides individualised navigational support to newly diagnosed patients to help mitigate the challenges of a lung cancer diagnosis. LEAP has also set up a Patient Advocate Council, providing opportunities for advocates to share their valuable lived experiences with the aim of shaping future policy-making in Singapore and in the region.

Business News

Tailored for Southeast Asia, Honored with German Red Dot Award, Midea Numen AC Brings Innovative Designs

ESSEN, GERMANY - Media OutReach Newswire - 30 May 2025 - Midea, the world’s No.1 residential inverter air conditioner company, has reached a new milestone as its Midea Numen air conditioner won the p...

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

A Decade of Excellence: Huatai Securities Celebrates H-Share Anniversary

Huatai Securities has continuously expanded its international presence since its H-share listing a decade ago. Over the past ten years, Huatai Securities has facilitated nearly 600 d...

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

Synology Premiers a Full Lineup of Advanced Data Management Solutions at COMPUTEX 2025

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 30 May 2025 - Synology showcased its latest lineup of innovations at COMPUTEX 2025, Taiwan, presenting a comprehensive solution portfolio spanning enterpris...

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

The World Debt Situation Has Become More Unstable, Octa Broker warns

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 30 May 2025 - Traders and investors alike are unnerved by the recent turbulence in the bond markets. After Moody's—a major rating agency—downgraded ...

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

Hong Kong-headquartered International Mediation Body Established

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 31 May 2025 - International mediation marked a significant milestone yesterday (May 30) with the establishment of the International Organization for Mediatio...

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

CDC Sets the Bar for Ethical Innovation with APEA 2025 Win

Commerce Dot Com Sdn Bhd honoured with Corporate Excellence Award at APEA 2025 for driving ethical, inclusive, and impactful digital transformation in Malaysia’s public procurement sector. PETALING JA...

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

Health & Wellness

Disability Care in Melbourne: What Families Need to Know in 2025

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

If you’re supporting a loved one with a disability in Melbourne, you’ll know how important it is to find the right care—and how overwhelming it can be to navigate the system. With the National Disab...

Online Medical Certificate Services: Essential Features to Look Out For

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

"Discover top online medical certificate services! Essential features to look for to get trusted and efficient results." Choosing high-quality services is essential for ensuring reliable, efficient, ...

The Importance of Having a Defibrillator in Public Spaces

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

Life is uncertain! It is almost impossible to be 100% sure of the future, anything can happen to anyone at any time. However, in the case of Sudden Cardiac Arrests (SCA), the presence of an Automat...