Why Patients With Cancer ‘Have to Be Our Own Advocates’

Kristen Dahlgren, a breast cancer survivor who is the founder and CEO of the Cancer Vaccine Coalition, understands the importance of patients with cancer finding reliable sources of information in order to keep themselves informed and empowered.

“I think we have to do our own research. I think we have to be our own advocates. If there's anything that I learned through my cancer journey where my cancer was missed by a mammogram and when I saw something that was out of the ordinary I pushed to get additional screening, is that I think we always have to be paying attention to what's going on, what's going on in the science,” Dahlgren said.

Dahlgren sat down for an interview with CURE to discuss patient empowerment and why cancer is “a non-partisan issue.”

Transcript

What advice do you have for patients with cancer processing everything they’re hearing in the media and keeping an eye on the science?

I'm a patient, too, so this is really personal for me. I believe that a cancer vaccine could prevent a recurrence for me. God forbid my cancer ever came back, I think having a vaccine could prevent that. So, this means a lot to me, and I'm watching this news both as a patient and as an advocate.

I think we have to do our own research and be our own advocates. If there's one thing I learned through my cancer journey (where my cancer was missed by a mammogram and I had to push for additional screening when I saw something was out of the ordinary) it's that we always have to pay attention to what's going on in the science. I believe that listening to trusted sources, like the Cancer Vaccine Coalition and other advocacy organizations that have the patients' best interests at heart, is how you can get the real information about what the research means and where it stands. We're partnering with AACR, the American Association for Cancer Research, to host this cancer vaccine summit. We're all looking to get the best information for patients and continue to push the science forward.

So, I think patients and caregivers can have a voice in this, too, and that's what I would encourage people to do: watch the news, ask questions, and speak with your oncologist. Vaccines, or whatever treatment you're considering, will always be a discussion with your oncologist. It's the same way you decide whether or not to do chemotherapy. Your oncologist has answers about what's going on, where the research stands, and what clinical trials are available. So, I think that's a really trusted source of information. Seek out the trusted sources of information.

Cancer is a non-partisan issue; cancer is the enemy. It doesn't know or care how you vote. We're all human, and our biology means that many of us, unfortunately, are going to face this diagnosis in our lifetimes. So, I think keeping politics out of it is the most important thing we can do. We should really follow the science and support it through organizations and researchers. That's how we can make a difference now, and at any time.

This transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

Reference

1. “Could Cancer Vaccines Become a Reality Within the Next Decade?” CURE, Aug. 21, 2025; https://www.curetoday.com/view/could-cancer-vaccines-become-a-reality-within-the-next-decade-

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