Recently, I had the honor of representing the voice of lung cancer patients as the first Indian Patient Advocate to lead a workshop on Patient Advocacy for oncologists, researchers, and emerging patient advocates from across Asia at the Asia Lung Cancer Conference (ACLC) in Hong Kong.

The 2024 Asia Conference on Lung Cancer (ACLC 2024) took place from October 17 to 19, 2024, organized by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC). This gathering spotlighted the latest advancements in lung cancer research, treatment methodologies, and clinical practices, serving as a beacon of hope for progress in the field.

This platform provided an invaluable opportunity to become a changemaker to foster a transformative shift in patient advocacy for lung cancer across the Asia-Pacific region. It allowed me to bring together patient advocates from various countries, guiding and empowering them with the knowledge, experience, and tools they need to become more effective voices for change.

It was truly inspiring to connect and collaborate with such an incredible group of fellow patient advocacy leaders and dear friends in this groundbreaking initiative, all united by the goal of improving healthcare for cancer patients in Asia.

Special thanks to IASLC team, Janet Freeman (ROS1Ders), Lillian Leigh (Chair of the workshop), and the remarkable Dr. Upal Basu Roy (LUNGevity) for their unwavering support and for making this opportunity possible.