Advocate Angle: From Bill to the Bench: How Legislative Advocacy Accelerates Cancer Care and Research

04/15/2026

Written by Dr. Fiona McAlister, Ovarian Cancer Survivor, Patient Mentor & Advocate, NRG Patient Advocate Committee Member

As patient advocates for NRG Oncology, our work often centers on the clinical side of progress. We spend time reviewing protocols, evaluating research concepts, and ensuring the voice of the patient is woven into the design of clinical trials. However, as an ovarian cancer survivor, I have learned that even the most groundbreaking research is only as effective as the policies that allow patients to access it.

While federal funding and national trials are the engines of innovation, the decision made at the legislative level, specifically within each of our State’s Capitols, is where we clear the hurdles that stand between a patient and a life-saving breakthrough.

From the Lab to the Lobby
Most of us know the American Cancer Society (ACS) for the amazing way they support patients and fund life-saving research, but there is a whole other side to their work that often flies under the radar. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) serves as a nonpartisan affiliate focused on influencing public policy to reduce the national cancer burden. By mobilizing a grassroots network of volunteers, the organization lobbies elected officials to secure increased research funding, improve healthcare access, and implement stronger tobacco control laws to protect public health.

Through my work with ACS CAN, I have seen firsthand how advocacy shifts from the bench and bedside to the legislative chamber. We aren’t just fighting for more research; we are fighting for evidence-based public policies that make cancer a top priority for policymakers at every level of government!

One of the most powerful displays of this advocacy is the annual Cancer Action Day at the Capitol. This past year, I joined fellow survivors, caregivers and advocates in Oklahoma City to walk through the halls of The Capitol and meet with members of both the Senate and the House. These events are opportunities to look our legislators in the eye and explain how a single vote can change the trajectory of a constituent’s life.

Breaking Down Barriers to Genetic Testing
In Oklahoma, ACS CAN has achieved several legislative and regulatory milestones aimed at improving patient care. For those of us in the ovarian cancer community, genetic testing is not just a procedural step; it is a roadmap. It informs surgical decisions, identifies targeted therapies, and helps family members understand their own risks. Yet, for years, insurance company cost-sharing requirements have acted as a gatekeeper, preventing many Oklahomans from accessing these vital insights.

Because of the conversations and work done by ACS CAN advocates and volunteers, two genetic testing bills, SB109 and HB 2270, helped change this story. In 2025, the Oklahoma Legislature approved and wrote into law, measures requiring health plans to cover genetic testing for inherited cancer risks, eliminating cost-sharing for high-risk individuals. Policies such as these are life-saving! When we sit across from a Senator or Representative to ask for their support of legislation like this, we are advocating for the practical application of research. There is something incredibly rewarding about seeing your advocacy turn into a signed law that helps people in your own community access the screenings they need.

Why Your Voice Matters
Legislators are experts in policy, but they are not always experts in the patient experience. They need to hear from the survivors who navigated a complex diagnosis, the researchers waiting for a grant, and the advocates who see the gaps in the system.

Advocacy at the legislative level is the “connective tissue” of cancer research. It ensures that discovery is met with coverage, innovation is met with access, and prevention is met with funding.  Whether it is participating in Cancer Action Day in your state or sharing your story with a legislator in your district, your voice is the most powerful tool we have! Getting involved with ACS CAN is a great way to turn your own journey into a powerful tool for change by helping to shape the laws that affect cancer prevention and care. Your voice is exactly what’s needed to help push for more research funding and make sure every patient can get the life-saving screenings and treatments they deserve. Together we can ensure that the next great medical breakthrough isn’t just a headline but is instead a reality for every patient.

About the Author
Dr. Fiona McAlister, Program Director at Southern Oklahoma Technology Center, educates future scientists and doctors in biotechnology. With a PhD in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from the Australian National University, she has conducted research at the Salk Institute and The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation. Dr. McAlister has received several awards for her contributions to science and education. As a cancer survivor and patient mentor, she brings her scientific expertise and advocacy to NRG Oncology, representing patient perspectives and supporting cancer research.