SPAGN Annual Conference 2025

We are thrilled to announce that the SPAGN Annual Conference 2025 will be held in Washington D.C., USA, from April 11-13, 2025. This will be our first conference in the United States, marking a significant milestone for our global community. This highly anticipated event will bring together patient advocates from around the world to discuss…

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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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Patient Advocacy @CTOS 2024

  We are delighted to announce that patient advocacy will once again have a valued presence at the Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS) Annual Meeting. This year, we are pleased to host the Patient Advocacy Lounge at CTOS 2024 in San Diego: Patient Advocacy LoungeRoom Balboa ABC, Second Level, Manchester Grand Hyatt San DiegoOpen from Thursday, November…

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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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Key Findings from Phase II of the SPAGN Priority Setting Partnership published 📝

The Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network (SPAGN) has published the results of the second phase of its Priority Setting Partnership (PSP), focusing on identifying research and patient advocacy priorities in sarcoma care, in “BMC Cancer”. This initiative is groundbreaking as it actively involves patients and carers in shaping the research agenda, ensuring their voices are…

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Save the Date: SPAGN Annual Conference 2025 in Washington D.C.!📅

We are thrilled to announce that the SPAGN Annual Conference 2025 will be held in Washington D.C., USA, from April 11-13, 2025. This will be our first conference in the United States, marking a significant milestone for our global community. This highly anticipated event will bring together patient advocates from around the world to discuss…

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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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Abbie’s Determination to Sock it to Sarcoma!

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.

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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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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