Oncologists are a special breed of physician who enter into a patient’s life during one of the most distressing and oftentimes traumatic life experiences: a cancer diagnosis. And, that’s just the start of the journey, which can last many years and involve great successes and disappointments.
This unique relationship gives oncologists passion and commitment to serving patients and ensuring access to the highest quality care.
Through the voices and stories of oncologists, ASCO’s I Live to Conquer Cancer™ initiative conveys the commitment and dedication of cancer care providers who are working every day to conquer cancer by researching new cures or providing care directly to patients in communities around the globe.
In a new video, Don S. Dizon, MD, FACP, FASCO, an oncologist at the Lifespan Cancer Institute at Rhode Island Hospital, shares his passion for treating each person with cancer as an individual – and for showing them there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Gladys Rodriguez, MD, an oncologist at the START Center for Cancer Care in San Antonio, Texas, explains how her upbringing in Puerto Rico – where resources were limited – led her to be a passionate advocate for addressing healthcare disparities. Now, she works to ensure her patients have access to financial help, transportation, and other assistance so they can get the treatment they need.
Stephanie Graff, MD, FACP, a breast medical oncologist at Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute at HCA Midwest in Overland Park, Kansas, shares a story about an unforgettable patient who was diagnosed with cancer just after giving birth. This moving patient story underscores Dr. Graff’s enduring commitment to listening to each patient, understanding their values, and making it her mission to fulfilling their goals.
I Live to Conquer Cancer™ builds on ASCO’s continued advocacy activities in support of improving patient access to cancer care, transforming the cancer care delivery system, and increasing research funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) – all with the ultimate goal of ensuring every patient with cancer has access to the cancer care they need, including the next generation of cures.
ASCO is inviting the entire cancer community to support I Live to Conquer Cancer by watching and sharing videos featuring their colleagues, as well as by:
- Using the ACT Network to ask Congress to make it possible for every patient to access high-quality cancer care.
- Answering the question, “Why do I live to conquer cancer?” on Twitter using the hashtag #LiveToConquerCancer
- Filming a short video or writing a short blog post answering the question “Why do I live to conquer cancer?” Many of the stories shared with ASCO will be posted on asco.org, published in ASCO Connection, and shared through social media.
ASCO launched I Live to Conquer Cancer in 2018 with a focus on federally funded cancer researchers who devoted their lives to clinical cancer research. Additional videos and stories are available at asco.org/Live-to-conquer-cancer.
Learn more about I Live to Conquer Cancer and ASCO’s policy priorities.
To stay up-to-date on cancer policy issues, please bookmark ASCO in Action.
