2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) - ePosters-EP.16E.01 Advancing Patient Empowerment: The Growth and Impact of Educational Lung Cancer Patient Groups

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The document discusses the vital role of educational lung cancer patient groups in empowering individuals diagnosed with the disease, particularly through the efforts of LiveLung, a nonprofit organization. In the United States, over 200,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer annually, yet support groups specifically tailored for lung cancer are scarce. These patient groups are crucial in addressing the emotional and psychological challenges lung cancer patients face, amplified by the disease's stigma and complex treatment processes.<br /><br />Research highlights that education and social support significantly improve the quality of life for lung cancer patients by reducing anxiety, enhancing self-care, minimizing treatment side effects, and fostering community. Peer support is emphasized as beneficial through shared experiences, information exchange, and humor as coping strategies.<br /><br />LiveLung facilitates both in-person and virtual support groups, offering patients educational resources, expert insights, and a community feeling akin to family. These groups advocate for patient empowerment, with meetings often featuring expert speakers covering topics such as mental health, nutrition, and recent research breakthroughs. LiveLung's impact is evident through the increasing attendance at their sessions and significant growth in viewership for their expert-led video content, fostering a broader reach across the lung cancer community.<br /><br />Feedback from patients and nurse navigators underscores the value of these groups, citing them as sources of hope, understanding, and companionship. LiveLung's educational initiatives provide vital support, helping address the psychosocial needs of lung cancer patients that are often unmet by broader cancer resources. The growth and success of LiveLung highlight the importance of disease-specific education and support in improving patient outcomes and combatting the stigma associated with lung cancer.

Asset Subtitle

Dusty Donaldson

Meta Tag

Speaker Dusty Donaldson

Topic Patient Advocacy

Keywords

lung cancer

patient empowerment

LiveLung

support groups

psychosocial support

education

peer support

community

stigma

quality of life