The Global Fight Against Cancer

ACS and Leading Brazilian Cancer Patient Advocacy Organization lead Journalism Symposium

Sao Paulo, Brazil — The American Cancer Society Global Health Programs and the Instituto Oncoguia, a leading cancer non-govermental organization in Brazil, jointly led a journalist symposium on cancer on August 31.  The event aimed to strengthen the patient voice and quality of cancer coverage in the media.  

The journalism symposium drew more than 50 leading national and regional journalists

Participants learned about and discussed cancer epidemiology, policy and legal issues, and the challenges of reporting on health topics and cancer.  Participants heard from experts on the global cancer and NCD burden (Alessandra Durstine and Gustavo Azenha), the impact of cancer in Brazil ( Dr. Rafael Kaliks), breast cancer control barriers in Brazil ( Dr. Sergio Simon ), cancer patient legal rights (Dr. Tiago Farina Matos),  access to radiotherapy (Dr. Carlos Manoel),  and the role of the media in helping the public make informed decisions about health (Dr. Otavio Clark).  Through lectures and roundtable discussions, participants also heard from leading health journalists from the most prominent media outlets in Brazil, including Luis Fernando Correa (Radio CBN and G1), Claudia Collucci (Folha de São Paulo),  Cilene Pereira (Revista Isto É), and Lilian Teles (Rede Globo) who shared their insight into the importance and challenges of improving coverage of cancer and cancer control. 

  Luciana Holz, President of Instituto Oncogui and Alessandra Durstine, American Cancer Society Global Health Programs 

Luciana Holz, President of Instituto Oncogui 

 

Latin American Patient Navigators Take Part in American Cancer Society Training Program in Mexico City

Patricia Valverde, associate director of the Colorado Patient Navigator Training program, delivers a presentation to the Latin American patient navigators.

The American Cancer Society held a patient navigator training in Mexico City from October 22-23 in collaboration with Mexico’s National Cancer Institute (INCan). The training brought together new and experienced navigators from American Cancer Society-supported patient navigator programs in Mexico (INCan Patient Navigator programs in Mexico City and Guadalajara) and Brazil (patient navigators programs from the Brazilian Cancer Association or Associação Brasileira do Câncer, ABCâncer). The American Cancer Society Latin American Patient Navigator Program aims to address cancer disparities by attending to the information and resource needs of cancer patients and caregivers from low-income communities. The training was led by Patricia Valverde, associate director of the Colorado Patient Navigator Training program and a doctoral student in Clinical Sciences, Health Services Research at the University of Colorado. An instructor and curriculum developer for the National American Cancer Society /Patient Navigator Research Program (ACS/PNRP) training program, Valverde shared her expertise developed through her extensive experiences in community outreach, patient navigation, patient navigator supervision, and patient navigation training. This training was made possible by an educational grant from Roche.

American Cancer Society CEO Visits Mexico City to Highlight Expansion of Society-supported Patient Navigation Program in Mexico

John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer, American Cancer Society (seated at end of table) meets with Mexican journalists in Mexico City.

John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer, American Cancer Society, visited Mexico City October 19-21 to talk with Mexican journalists and health officials about efforts to expand a Society-supported patient navigation program in Mexico. This program, administered by the Mexican National Cancer Institute (INCan), helps cancer patients and their families by providing information and psychosocial support. Seffrin met with several Mexican health officials, including José Ángel Córdova, MD secretary of health for Mexico; Mauricio Hernández, MD, DSc, the Mexican Ministry of Health’s leading tobacco expert; and Alejandro Mohar, MD, director of INCan. Seffrin also conducted a press conference and interviews with Mexican journalists. These discussions led to coverage of the American Cancer Society in some of Mexico’s leading print, radio, and TV media organizations.