Press Release
Feb 01, 2021
Chris Martin CMartin@DavidJamesGroup.com | 630-670-2745
DENVER- The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) has selected Calgary, Canada resident Diane Colton as a participant for the Supportive Training for Advocates on Research and Science (STARS) Program as a Patient Research Advocate (PRA).
The STARS program aims to help patient advocates evolve into patient research advocates—a distinction explained by a PRA’s ability to bring the patient voice to research-related efforts. PRAs work with clinicians and scientists to provide the patient perspective for lung cancer research and policy.
Ms. Colton was diagnosed in November 2011 with stage 1B lung cancer. She had surgery to remove a tumor but in June 2012 tests revealed the cancer had spread to other parts of her body. She was treated with radiation, but seven years later, Colton started having vision issues. Her doctors discovered brain metastasis and she was given stereotactic radiation to treat the metastases, which resulted in shrinking of the metastases.
As part of her lung cancer journey, Colton has worked in her local community to raise funds and awareness about lung cancer. She currently volunteers with a number of organizations including Lung Cancer Canada, Lung Health Foundation in Ontario, and Evict Radon. She is working on communications materials that doctors can provide to their patients.
“I believe that it is important to have a united and seamless national front in order for our voices as stewards for the lung cancer patient community to be heard and understood,” Ms. Colton said. She noted that it is important for patients to initiate conversations with their doctors about treatment options. “Patients and those who stand beside them work in partnership with each other, and we should always treat each other that way.”
STARS Mentors and PRAs will receive complimentary registration to attend the IASLC 2020 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC), to be held virtually January 28-31 2021. The WCLC is the largest international conference specific to lung cancer. To prepare for WCLC, Mentors and PRAs will participate in communication learning labs through Research Advocacy Network, education sessions and meetings with key opinion leaders in the lung cancer community.
About the IASLC:
The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) is the only global organization dedicated solely to the study of lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies. Founded in 1974, the association's membership includes nearly 7,500 lung cancer specialists across all disciplines in over 100 countries, forming a global network working together to conquer lung and thoracic cancers worldwide. The association also publishes the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the primary educational and informational publication for topics relevant to the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of all thoracic malignancies. Visit www.iaslc.org for more information.
About the WCLC:
The WCLC is the world’s largest meeting dedicated to lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies, attracting more than 7,000 researchers, physicians and specialists from more than 100 countries. The goal is to increase awareness, collaboration and understanding of lung cancer, and to help participants implement the latest developments across the globe. The conference will cover a wide range of disciplines and unveil several research studies and clinical trial results. For more information, visit wclc2020.iaslc.org.