Patient Empowerment Through Advocacy: Encourage Your Patients to Join Our Community of ANGELS for Support, Education, and Inspiration

January 2025 Vol 16, No 1
Maimah Karmo
Tigerlily Foundation

Navigating a cancer experience can be overwhelming. I know this firsthand. Diagnosed at 32 years old, I faced barriers to screening and diagnosis and was unprepared for all the information that I had to digest—and much of which I didn’t understand—while having to make decisions that would change the course of my life. Thankfully, I was able to navigate the journey, and in a few months, I will be 19 years cancer-free. As a healthcare provider, you play a crucial role in connecting patients to life-changing resources that offer more than medical care—they provide hope, empowerment, and community. We also know that doctors are managing a lot. This program delivers help and hope to both the patient and the healthcare provider team. That’s why we’re excited to share an incredible opportunity for your patients who have been affected by breast cancer: Tigerlily Foundation’s ANGEL Advocacy Program. Designed to uplift, educate, and activate breast cancer survivors, the program transforms patients into advocates for themselves and their communities. ANGEL stands for Advocate Now to Grow, Empower, and Lead, reflecting the mission of the program to foster leadership through advocacy training, educational workshops, and supportive community engagement. By participating, patients gain valuable knowledge, develop critical advocacy skills, and become empowered leaders ready to navigate their cancer experience with confidence and purpose.

What Is the ANGEL Advocacy Program?

Tigerlily Foundation’s ANGEL Advocacy program is free and offers education and support to people affected by breast cancer—whether as patient, caregiver, or ally. The program aims to teach participants how to advocate for themselves and/or their loved ones throughout the cancer journey. By joining this community, your patients will gain valuable skills that will empower them to manage their experience, make informed decisions, and help others facing similar challenges.

By sharing the ANGEL Advocacy Program with your patients, you are helping to ensure that they not only survive but thrive throughout their breast cancer journey. Let’s work together to break down barriers and build a stronger, more equitable healthcare system.

Why Is the ANGEL Advocacy Program Important?

This program is vital for all women under the age of 50, with a heightened focus on Black and Brown women, who experience significant health disparities and disproportionately high breast cancer death rates, as well as patients who are underserved or vulnerable. ANGELs are at the forefront of efforts to dismantle these disparities, focusing on achieving health equity for all. Participants will have the option to learn how to advocate for better representation in the healthcare system. By raising their voices, ANGEL Advocates are helping to drive change and improve health outcomes for marginalized communities.

How Does the Program Work?

The ANGEL Advocacy training is conducted virtually over 5 weeks, with sessions lasting 1 to 2 hours per week. The training is designed to be accessible, flexible, and engaging, providing participants with the knowledge and tools they need to become strong advocates for themselves and others. This program not only educates but also builds a community of support, offering a space where individuals can connect with others who truly understand their experiences.

What Can Your Patients Expect?

  • Empowerment: ANGEL Advocates will gain the confidence to speak up about their healthcare needs and preferences, ensuring they are actively involved in the decision-making process
  • Education: Participants will learn about breast cancer, treatment options, and ways to navigate the healthcare system effectively
  • Support: The program fosters a community where individuals can share experiences, challenges, and triumphs, knowing they are not alone
  • Advocacy Tools: Participants will walk away with concrete skills to advocate for themselves, their families, and their communities, improving the breast cancer journey for others

How Can You Help Your Patients Get Involved?

Connecting your patients with meaningful support can transform their cancer experience. We encourage you to introduce them to Tigerlily Foundation's ANGEL Advocacy Program. Whether they are currently undergoing breast cancer treatment, supporting a loved one, or seeking to become a community ally, this program offers comprehensive advocacy training, educational resources, and a supportive community. By participating, they’ll gain the skills and confidence needed to make a lasting impact in their personal health journey and beyond.

How to Sign Up

The sign-up process is simple. Just share the QR code below with your patients or encourage them to visit https://angel.tigerlilyfoundation.org/. The next session starts soon, so don’t wait—help your patients join this community of ANGELs today.

Together, we can create a future where every patient feels supported, informed, and empowered to advocate for themselves and others. Join the movement to transform breast cancer care and improve health outcomes for all.

Maimah Karmo is the founder of Tigerlily Foundation, a breast cancer survivor, and a member of the JONS and Conquer advisory boards.

Visit https://angel.tigerlilyfoundation.org/ or scan code to learn more or register to become an ANGEL Advocate. »

Related Items

Building Bridges: The Critical Role of Patient Navigators and the Impact to Health Equity
By Maimah Karmo
April 2025 Vol 16, No 4
By integrating patient navigators into healthcare systems, expanding workforce training, and fostering meaningful partnerships, we can move closer to a future where health equity is not just an ideal but a reality.
Advocacy and You: How Navigators Can Get Involved
March 2024 Vol 15, No 3
The current political and public policy environments are ripe for nurse and patient navigators to begin advocating for their professions.
The NNRT: Focus on Sustainability of Patient Navigation
January 2024 Vol 15, No 1
Navigators remove barriers to care and improve health disparities, but if navigation models aren’t sustainable, patients lose, and health inequities persist.
Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship
JONS

Subscribe Today!

To sign up for our print publication or e-newsletter, please enter your contact information below.

I'd like to receive:

  • First Name *
    Last Name *
     
    Profession or Role
    Primary Specialty or Disease State
    Country