Doug Ulman is the CEO of LIVESTRONG. He presented the following at this year's World Cancer Congress in Shenzhen, China.

1. Mobilizing Survivors and Advocates
Doug Ulman, President and CEO
LIVESTRONG

2. Today, cancer is the #1 killer globally.
The Facts

3. “Most of the world is
still struggling to
“Cancer is not
find solutions for
discussed around
AIDS, TB and
the world. It is
malaria. Cancer has
not a priority on
not been the main
the global agenda”
concern”
“One of the most
“Cancer has a big important elements is to
stigma outside the bring people together.
U.S. People do not Specifics might differ per
talk about their country, but there needs
cancer” to be someone or
something that brings
together the sum of the
parts”
Basis for LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign

4. Basis for LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign

5. Build international
awareness
Empower cancer
survivors and reduce
the stigma and
silence associated
with cancer
Global Cancer Campaign Launch:
Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting Mobilize
September, 2008 a grassroots
movement
Framework for LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign

6. Building International
Awareness

7. The Call for Global Commitments
to the Fight Against Cancer
Building International Awareness

8. LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit
Building International Awareness

9. August 2009, at the close of the Summit:
• 92% felt more aware that they are an important part
of the global fight against cancer
• 86% felt empowered with new ways of engaging
others
August 2010, one year later:
• More than 90% created partnerships they plan to
continue
• 89% said that the Summit increased their ability to
achieve their commitment to fighting cancer
Building International Awareness

10. Bringing together stakeholders from around the globe and
across the cancer control continuum can lead to impactful,
tangible results:
• Formation of new Global Task Force on Expanded Access to Cancer Care and
Control in Developing Countries (support of Dana Farber Cancer Institute,
Harvard Global Equity Initiative, Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of
Public Health and Honorary Co-Presidents Her Royal Highness Princess Dina
Mired and Lance Armstrong)
• Formation of new body tackling cancer in Africa- AFRICaN
• Partnership between World Palliative Care Alliance and WHO to develop Atlas
of Palliative Care worldwide
• Catalyzed partnership between Breast Health Global Initiative and PACT who
are joining forces to implement a distance learning curriculum in Africa which
will include new modules on breast cancer medicine
• Collaboration between Cancer Diseases Hospital, Zambia and Surgeons
Overseas who offered training of Zambian surgeons in esophageal stenting
• Among many, many others…
Building International Awareness

11. Through these partnerships and
commitments, what did we collectively
achieve on the ground this year?
As a global cancer community, we have affected the
lives of millions of people around the world and have
reached hundreds of millions of people with
educational and awareness messages.
Building International Awareness

12. Empowering
Cancer Survivors and
Reducing Stigma

13. Pilot projects in Mexico and South Africa
in 2010-2011
Survivor Empowerment Anti-Stigma Initiative
Initiative
• Potential for transformational change for cancer survivors and
people affected by cancer
• Catalyze and support collaboration among local organizations
through initiative partnerships
• Work to build replicable, sustainable models
• Empower cancer survivors to take action
Empowering Cancer Survivors and Reducing Stigma

14. Survivor Empowerment Initiative
• Designed to support a national call
to action
• Prepare advocates to convene a
Survivor Forum which brings
together key stakeholders to discuss
crucial issues at a national level
• Empower survivors to share their
stories and speak out
• Places the survivor at the core of the
system to shift discourse and bring
visibility to gaps in cancer control
• Highlight need for cancer to be a
stronger priority on a country’s
health agenda
Empowering Cancer Survivors and Reducing Stigma

15. Cancer stigma is a global challenge
Italy: Population needs to Russia: Parents believe cancer for
correct lifestyles. children = incurable; people put off
France: “Taboo” of cancer; diagnosis for fear of hearing the worst.
cancer is “scary” and deadly The word cancer is a synonym for fear
disease; “demonized” points of
and hopelessness even as specialists
view exist for cancer; cancer
survivors are heroes assure it is no longer a death
sentence.
Mexico: Cancer is a
“death sentence” China: Women
when not detected “apprehensive” about
early enough checking for breast
cancer; elderly believe
you can get cancer from
other people; some cling
Brazil: People to superstition that cancer
“suffer” from cancer. is a punishment from the
deities.
India: Everyone with
Argentina: Women cancer dies; cancer is
are “afraid” to get South Africa: Some still think most powerful “brand”
Japan: Cancer is
cancer; they “fear” cancer = death sentence or of death in mainstream
“troublesome” and
results so avoid the that cell phones cause cancer; cinema; women often
provides “conflicting”
tests. still need early detection. too shy to seek help
feelings.
when a lump is
discovered.
Empowering Cancer Survivors and Reducing Stigma

16. Anti-Stigma Initiative
• Reduce stigma through culturally-
relevant and targeted messaging
• Focus on empowering survivors to
share their stories
• Two-pronged approach:
• Awareness raising at national
level
• Message reinforcement at
community level
To learn more about our research on Stigma and Silence
around the world, see: http://www.livestrong.org/What-We-
Do/Our-Approach/Reports-Findings
Empowering Cancer Survivors and Reducing Stigma

17. Mobilizing a
Grassroots Movement

18. LIVESTRONG Leaders in Resources and tools for
45 countries individuals to take
action
Robust social media:
Empowering survivors to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,
share their stories Flickr, LIVESTRONGblog.org
Mobilizing a Grassroots Movement

19. • Continue deeper organizational and
institutional collaboration
• Share more resources, knowledge, skills
• Increased governmental action and public-
private partnerships
• Increased accountability and transparency
across stakeholder groups
• Continue to inspire and engage survivors,
advocates, communities in meaningful ways
• Leverage timely opportunities – 2011 UN
Summit on non-communicable diseases
What next?