Maybe you have pain from your cancer. Or maybe it’s from neuropathy or another side effect from chemo. On top of all that, you may be worried and anxious about treatment.
Chronic pain grinds you down and robs you of quality of life. But palliative care can provide help.
What is Palliative Care?
Many people, including medical professionals, don’t understand what palliative care is. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines palliative care as “an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.” Palliative care is not just for the dying.
The Colon Cancer Alliance believes palliative care is an important aspect of care for cancer patients. We joined the Patient Quality of Life Coalition (PQLC) to make palliative care accessible to everyone who needs it.
READ MORE: Learn the Facts: What is Palliative Care?
How Can I Make a Difference
Join us for the PQLC Lobby Day in Washington, DC on Wednesday, June 22, 2016.
This event will educate lawmakers on the importance of access, training and education surrounding high-quality palliative care services, as well as advocate for Congressional support of PCHETA (H.R. 3119 / S. 2748).
This event promises to be a valuable use of your time and a great experience. Please join us and the PQLC in garnering support and educating lawmakers on the importance of patient quality of life.
How Can I Participate?
Participating in the June 22nd event requires the following commitment from you:
- Register for the event using this link. This will only take a few minutes and the information provided will be kept safe by our professional Coalition staff. Registration closes May 15.
- Participate in pre-Lobby Day training via WebEx, on Wednesday, June 15th from 1:30 – 2:30 pm EDT. During this training, the coalition will provide you with additional details about the lobby day event, inform you of what our legislative “ask” will be during Hill meetings, and answer your questions.
- Be in Washington, DC from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm on Wednesday, June 22, 2016. This may require travel the night before (Tuesday, June 21) and we don’t recommend a departure flight before 6:30 pm on June 22nd.
Travel scholarships may be available for advocates from high priority districts.*
We are looking for advocates from the following states:
- ALASKA
- GEORGIA
- KENTUCKY
- MAINE
- SOUTH CAROLINA
- UTAH
- WYOMING
If you have any questions, please contact us at (202) 628-0123.
*Travel scholarship recipients should coordinate travel directly with Auda Martinez, auda.martinez@advocacysmiths.com or 703-399-0202.