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Welcome to the Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network!

Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network (SPAGN) is the global network of national Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Organizations. Today, more than 60 member groups from 5 continents gather under the umbrella of SPAGN, providing a common, international and influential patient voice for sarcoma patients around the globe. SPAGN is working to improve the treatment and care of sarcoma patients through information and support, and by increasing the visibility of sarcoma with policymakers and the public.

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It's CTOS! Time to celebrate our sarcoma member organizations!

It's that time again—the Annual Meeting of the Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS)! During the congress, we open the Patient Advocacy Lounge for our SPAGN members, providing a space to showcase their organizations, projects, and achievements. This is our way of celebrating their remarkable work for sarcoma patients.

For the duration of the CTOS Annual Meeting 2024, we’re also dedicating this space - our homepage - to highlight the impressive work of national sarcoma patient advocacy groups.

Curious to learn more about our members? Click here.

Want to learn more about our activites at CTOS 2024? Have a look here.

 

Survey Website Home

The Importance of Early and Accurate Diagnosis of Sarcomas 🩺🕒

Early diagnosis of sarcoma is crucial as it ensures that the tumor is discovered before the disease has spread extensively. This allows for treatment that is often less intensive or invasive compared to treatments required at more advanced stages. Additionally, an accurate diagnosis is essential for implementing the optimal therapy. Without it, patients may receive inappropriate treatments, either too aggressive or insufficient.

Dear patients and caregivers, please help us gather valuable data by completing our survey. Your insights will contribute to a better understanding of the diagnosis journey and help improve future outcomes for sarcoma patients worldwide.

May 17 2024

What is a sarcoma specialist center?

On May 13, 2024, SPAGN published a paper in “Cancers” on the definition, core principles and features of a sarcoma specialist center, developed by patient advocates and healthcare professionals together. The management of sarcomas in specialist centers delivers significant benefits. In much of the world, specialists are not available, and the development of expertise is…
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Apr 16 2024

Join the SPAGN Editorial Blog Team: Volunteer Job Opportunity

VOLUNTEER JOB POSTING: Editors for the SPAGN Blog” Voices of Sarcoma” We are looking for volunteers to serve on the Editorial team of SPAGN’s blog “Voices of Sarcoma”.   Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network (SPAGN) is the global network of national sarcoma patient advocacy organizations. Uniting more than 65 member groups from five continents, SPAGN…
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Mar 6 2024

First Webinar “What is a Sarcoma?” in Spanish and Portuguese, March 22, 2024!

Nos complace anunciar nuestro primer webinar para pacientes con sarcoma, cuidadores y defensores de pacientes de América Central y del Sur, realizado en español y portugués por especialistas en sarcoma de Argentina y Brasil en esta ocasión. El webinar tendrá lugar el 22 de marzo de 2024, sobre el tema “¿Qué es un sarcoma?”. Los…
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Feb 21 2024

EU-X-CT – Patient Questionnaire – Borders should not be barriers to clinical trials

The EU-X-CT initiative aims at revolutionizing patient access to clinical trials across borders. But before we delve into the project details, we want to emphasize something crucial – your participation! The data is being collected through a Patient Questionnaire which is available in multiple languages. Your insights are invaluable in understanding the current landscape of…
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Jan 23 2024

Insights from the EMA and EORTC Workshop on Developing Treatments for Ultra-Rare Sarcomas

Author: Gerry Feeney How can we develop new treatments in ultra-rare sarcomas, as a model for ultra-rare tumors?   On January 12, 2024, a workshop between regulators, researchers and patient advocates was held at the European Medicines Agency (EMA) premises in Amsterdam. The objective for the workshop was to discuss strategies to be more flexible…
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Dec 21 2023

SPAGN Annual Conference Registrations Are Now Open – Secure Your Spot Today!

Registration for SPAGN Annual Conference 2024 Is Now Open We are thrilled to announce that registration is now open for the SPAGN Annual Conference 2024, a radiant exchange of knowledge and inspiration for the global sarcoma community! Join us for this transformative event, meticulously crafted to facilitate learning, foster capacity building, and provide a unique…
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Oct 31 2024

Not just any cancer information day…. from the diary of a patient advocate

More than five years after therapy, our Editor-in-Chief Gabi Ott went back to the hospital where she was treated. But this time, it was not as a patient but as a patient advocate. Together with her colleagues, she attended to people looking for information on sarcoma. Being in the building also brought back memories of her darkest days – and the many people who helped her during this journey. A tribute to the nurses and doctors, and a patient organization.
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Sep 6 2024

Bridging the Gap in Sarcoma Care: A Vision for South Africa

Sarcoma patients in South Africa struggle to find the expertise required for correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Lauren Pretorius, Chief Executive Office of Campaigning for Cancer, provides her vision on how sarcoma care in South Africa can be transformed.
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Jul 22 2024

Detecting sarcomas early is crucial

Diagnosing sarcomas is important but challenging: they are so rare that many doctors come across only a handful during their careers, and early symptoms are often vague. Soft tissue sarcomas being his specialisation, Dr. Avirup Chowdury from the Institute of Cancer Research in London, takes us through the diagnostic pathway and identifies key factors of an ideal scenario. He also give pointers for patients of suspicious symptoms.
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A graphic featuring a photo of Abbie Basson standing on the viewing platform of the Eiffel Tower, promoting the latest blog post from Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network. The caption reads: Abbie's Determination to Sock it to Sarcoma! How one family's fight with Ewing's Sarcoma started a movement for speedy diagnosis in rural Western Australia.

Jul 3 2024

Abbie’s Determination to Sock it to Sarcoma!

Mandy Basson is a mother on a mission. Her daughter Abbie’s diagnosis of Ewing’s Sarcoma started a journey to improve diagnosis and treatment pathways for sarcoma patients in rural healthcare systems. This is the story of the birth of Sock it to Sarcoma!
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Jun 20 2024

Artificial intelligence – what does it mean to us?

We live in truly interesting times, finds Gerard van Oortmerssen, Co-Chair of the SPAGN Board. The latest wave of digital revolution, artificial intelligence, creates new opportunities for sarcoma patients and patient advocates. AI can facilitate access to information and peer-to-peer support. Moreover, it allows to collect patient reported outcomes and thus give sarcoma patients a stronger voice and say in research and care.
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Jun 13 2024

The lump is gone — finally!

About ten months ago, Roger Wilson shared with us the experience of finding a lump – again. It was a benign cyst, and for the first time, he had a choice as to whether or not to have a surgery. Roger decided to have the lump removed, and it is finally gone. Relieved and grateful to his tumour team, Roger gives us the continuation of his story.
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Working together, making a difference.

SPAGN and Members

The network only is as strong as its members. SPAGN welcomes every sarcoma, GIST or desmoid patient group and individuals interested in sarcomas worldwide to become part of our network and thus strengthen it.

Events and Projects

SPAGN not only hosts a variety of events, but also participates in congresses and external events. It is our aim to represent the patients' voice wherever suitable, necessary and potentially helpful to achieve our goals, foremost to improve the situation of sarcoma patients around the globe. Find out more in our section "Events & Projects"

Advocacy & Tools

Our member organizations are very active in their countries and we try to support them wherever possible, and even more so in the future. Please stay tuned, there's more to come!

Experts & Research

Sarcomas are rare. It is therefore very important to find physicians or even better multidisciplinary teams who have experience with this disease. SPAGN is setting up alist of sarcoma centers or centers with sarcoma expertise per country. Find out more here.

Sarcoma Facts & Figures

Sarcomas are a diverse and relatively rare group of malignant tumors. The vast majority of diagnosed sarcomas are soft tissue sarcomas, while malignant bone tumors make up just over 10%.

Find out more about Soft Tissue Sarcomas, Bone Sarcomas, GIST and Desmoid Tumors in our section "Sarcoma Facts & Figures"

Blog, News and Newsletter

Please visit our News section or our SPAGN Blog "Voices of Sarcoma". To get regular information, please sign up for our Newsletter today!