Graham Hall
Consumer Advocate
Graham has been a Patient Advocate for Lung Cancer since his diagnosis in 2018. He started patient advocacy after he saw the disparity with the survival rate and level of care, between his two primary cancers, Prostate and Lung Cancer (ALK positive mutation). His first advocacy role was for Lung Foundation Australia (LFA) where he, along with other patient advocates shared their stories at the Australian Federal Parliament House to encourage more government funding for dedicated lung cancer nurses. Further presentations and meetings on behalf of LFA ensued which saw additional funds allocated by the Australian Government.
Graham continued to share his story via government submissions for funding assistance of certain pharmaceuticals, providing patient perspectives of the implications if medications are inaccessible due to cost or availability and the far-reaching impacts it causes.
Over the last 18 months, Graham has, along with two other patients and their respective partners, established an Australian registered charity ALK Positive Australia Inc. They saw that information, support and research funding for Australians diagnosed with ALK Positive Lung Cancer was limited and nearly all information based on overseas methodologies, with some noticeable variances in standard of care between countries. From their experience and those with similar conditions, they saw confusion for treatment options for nearly all newly diagnosed patients. The charity, although still fairly new, has resolved some of these issues, with the other solutions well on the way to being implemented.
To further develop knowledge, Graham has attended numerous conferences regarding Lung Cancer such as those hosted by LFA and TOGA (Thoracic Oncology Group Australasia). In addition, he also has attended IASLC (International Association of the Study of Lung Cancer) World Conference on Lung Cancer and virtually the ALK Summit. Graham has also been accepted for the IASLC STARS Patient Research Advocate program for 2024.
Graham is a recipient of the IASLC 2023 Educational Award for his concept on the website for ALK Positive Lung Cancer Australia Inc and has participated in various video content for Lung Cancer based organisations. Some of the more recent content is a promotional video for the IASLC LCAM23 and a speaker on a webinar for the Australian Lung Foundations Lung Cancer Conference Consumer Advocacy wrap-up.
Graham continues to seek out opportunities to help the broader Lung Cancer Community achieve better outcomes for those, like himself, fighting Lung Cancer.
When Graham is not participating in lung cancer advocacy, he enjoys spending quality time with his wife and twin teenage sons along with their neurotic Cocker Spaniel.
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