Mohammed Faisal Eltagalawi, Development Researcher at Qatar Cancer Society, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“People living with cancer must not be absent from cancer control planning.
National Cancer Control Plans (NCCPs) and Programmes are not only technical documents. They shape how cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and palliative care are delivered in real life.
This is why the involvement of People Living With Cancer (PLWC) is essential. PLWC bring lived experience that cannot be fully captured through statistics or clinical guidelines alone. Their voices help identify real service access barriers, including delays in diagnosis, financial challenges, stigma, communication gaps, navigation difficulties, and the emotional burden of cancer care.
When PLWC are meaningfully engaged in the development, implementation, and evaluation of National Cancer Control Plans, cancer services become more:
- People-centred.
- Equitable.
- Accessible.
- Responsive to real patient needs.
- Aligned with the realities of the community.
Their participation should not be symbolic. It should be structured, respected, and integrated into decision-making.
A strong cancer control programme is not only designed for people living with cancer, but also designed with them.”
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