The Cancer Experience Panel 

The panel is a national engagement platform for people affected by cancer with whom our teams engage.

The panel supports CCS’s commitment to embedding lived experience perspectives in our work. It is one tool teams use to help build the priorities of people affected by cancer into programs and services, the information we provide, our advocacy work and much more.  

Anyone over 18 who has cancer, has previously had cancer, or who has cared for someone with cancer can join. 

As a member, you’re periodically invited to participate in surveys, focus groups and other activities. Participation is always optional. 

Panel insights have directly influenced CCS programs, advocacy efforts and informational materials. For example, panel members have been invited to:

• Join a focus group on the financial burden of cancer care
• Share their impressions of our statement of purpose
• Complete surveys related to specific cancer types and treatments
• Provide feedback on our position statements on cancer screening guidelines
• And much more!

Some activities offer an honorarium while others do not. You will always be advised of whether compensation is available when invited to participate in an activity. Generally, surveys and shorter activities are not compensated, while some focus groups and longer commitments are. Our teams approach decisions about compensation on a case-by-case basis, drawing on our research team’s Expert Compensation Policy. 

There is no fixed time commitment. You choose which activities to participate in and when.  

How often you are contacted will depend on who teams are seeking to reach. Most panel members can expect to receive between 4-10 invitations per year. 

We ask about many factors that may influence a person’s cancer experience and health outcomes. This allows us to send members the most relevant opportunities and better understand the perspectives of communities that are often underserved in healthcare. In doing so, we can better address barriers and work towards more equitable and inclusive cancer care.

To participate in the panel, you’ll need access to email and the internet. Most activities take place virtually, via surveys or video calls. Occasionally, we may invite you to meet in a physical space and will provide details on accessibility. We are committed to working with you on a case-by-case basis to address any barriers to participation as best as possible. If you have accessibility needs or require other supports, please don’t hesitate to reach out to panel@cancer.ca. 

All engagement opportunities are optional, and you must actively opt-in once an invitation is sent. If you wish to unsubscribe from the panel, you can click “unsubscribe” in the emails you receive, reply and ask that we unsubscribe you, or contact privacy@cancer.ca.  

For more information on our privacy practices, visit cancer.ca/privacy.

Please reach out to panel@cancer.ca with any questions, suggestions or comments.