RCE-ESMO-ESO Training Course for Rare Cancer Patient Advocates 2017

Around 4 million people in the European Union are affected by rare cancers. Despite the rarity of each of the 198 rare cancers, they represent in total about 22% of all cancer cases, including all cancers in children, diagnosed in the EU28 each year.

Rare cancers are classified in the group of rare diseases which is defined in the European Union as diseases with a prevalence of fewer than 5 cases out of a population of 10,000. As such, patients with rare cancers are faced with particular challenges, including late or incorrect diagnosis, difficulties finding clinical expertise and accessing appropriate treatments, difficulties carrying out clinical studies due to the small number of patients, possible lack of interest in developing new therapies, high uncertainty in clinical decision-making, and the scarcity of available registries and tissue banks

Programme

This RCE-ESMO-ESO joint event was linked to the annual  ESO-ESMO-RCE Clinical Update on Rare Adult Solid Cancers and provided community of rare cancer patient advocates the opportunity to share their experiences and to learn more about Rare Cancers – mainly in the fields of Rare Cancer Challenges, Access to/Quality of Care, Research and Advocacy.

Download the programme

Travel grants

We are delighted offer a limited number of travel grants to enable European Cancer Patient Advocates to attend the RCE Training Course on rare cancers taking place in Milan 2-4 December 2017.

Eligibility is based primarily on financial need as well as advocacy background in rare cancers, experience and current activities. Applicants will need to demonstrate a financial need as to why they would not be able to attend the RCE training course without a travel grant award.

Priority will be given to patient advocates active in the rare cancers community who indicate that they work as volunteers on behalf of a non-profit organization that provides programs, information, resources, and support for people affected by rare cancers (rather than directly employed by a non-profit organization).

Travel grants are limited to up to 1 employee per organization (there is no limit for those who volunteer on behalf of a non-profit organization, academic institution, or serve as a patient advocate on a rare cancer research committee/panel/program).

By applying for and accepting a travel grant, recipients must agree to provide a brief testimonial (200 words or less) at the conclusion of the meeting. The testimonial should summarize the recipient’s overall experience and the education they gained from attending the meeting. Recipients must agree that the testimonial or a portion thereof may be posted on the RCE and ESMO websites.

How to apply

To apply for a grant, please send your CV and a letter of motivation, proving that part of your time is dedicated to rare cancer advocacy. All applicants should be proficient in English.

Please send your application by e-mail to: francesca.longo@esmo.org with the subject line: RCE training course 2017 – travel grant – your name

Application deadline

The deadline for receipt of applications is 17 November 2017. Successful applicants will be notified in the by the end of the same month.

Additional requests received after the deadline, will be kept in a waiting list and processed at a later stage, based on the amount of financial support still available.

Each travel grant will reimburse travel & accommodation costs up to a maximum of 500 EUR. Advocates awarded a travel grant will be asked to make their own travel and hotel reservations, paying all expenses up front. Reimbursements will be processed after the event, and upon receipt of original travel and accommodation bills/invoices.

Venue

Fondazione Cariplo
via Daniele Manin 23
20121 Milano
Italy
Tel: +39 0262391
www.fondazionecariplo.it

Organising Secretariat

Rare Cancers Europe Secretariat
ESMO Head Office
Via Luigi Taddei 4
6962 Viganello-Lugano
Switzerland