Lived Experience in Cancer Care and Research
Patients and caregivers in the Patient and Family Engagement program provide valuable insights into the patient experience, aiming to improve it.
The program has expanded to match patient advocates with researchers, helping design more authentic and participant-friendly clinical trials and studies.
- Some patients become advocates due to positive experiences, such as early diagnosis and effective treatment.
- Others get involved because of negative experiences, like misdiagnosis.
Such was the case for Brandelyn Bergstedt, director of Fred Hutch Cancer Center’s Patient Experience Program, whose personal experience with a misdiagnosis while pregnant led her to patient advocacy.
Author's summary: Patient engagement enhances cancer care and research.