Cancer advocacy evolves as it gains seats on research panels.

Abstract

In the early 1990s, breast cancer advocates like Deborah Collyar spent much of their time demanding attention. “We made a lot of noise,” said Collyar, who is now president of Patient Advocates in Research, a national organization based in San Francisco. As one of the first cancer advocates, Collyar was also persistent. She called investigators, wrote letters, demanded audiences, attended meetings, and stood in line at the microphone when speakers invited questions.