Learning, Reflecting, Evolving: My Experience at WECAN

Soumitra (far right) with other Lung Cancer Europe representatives at WECAN Academy,

From 26–28 June 2025, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the WECAN Academy - SmartStart Track, one of Europe’s leading training programmes for cancer patient advocates. It was an inspiring and intense few days in sunny Rome bringing together 70 passionate advocates from across Europe - all committed to improving the lives of people affected by cancer. It was also a unique opportunity to connect with a broad cross-section of participants, facilitators, and sponsors.

I am truly grateful to LuCE (Lung Cancer Europe) for offering me this chance. As Treasurer of EGFR Positive UK - and as someone personally affected by this disease - it was both a professional and deeply personal privilege to be part of this vibrant community of changemakers. Looking forward to the MasterClass next year.

The Academy focused on three core themes that strongly resonated with me:

· Advocacy tools and skills

· Understanding data and evidence

· Health systems and policy influence

We delved into essential topics like financial sustainability for patient organisations, interpreting complex clinical and scientific data, understanding the drug development and regulatory process, and contributing meaningfully to Health Technology Assessments (HTAs). I left not only better informed, but genuinely energised.

The experience also gave me the space to reflect on how we, as a charity, can continue to evolve. As EGFR Positive UK completes its fifth year, one theme has stayed with me: the real power of collaboration. Whether it’s raising our collective voice to shape cancer policy, tapping into networks like LuCE and WECAN to strengthen support for our members, or working more closely with other lung cancer groups to address inequities in access to treatment - collaboration must be at the heart of our next phase.

I am also thinking about how we can contribute to European-level conversations, even as a UK-based organisation, and ensure our community’s voice is represented and heard.

My time at WECAN has left me hopeful. I have returned with fresh ideas, new connections, and a renewed commitment to doing what we do - better, smarter, and always with our members at the centre.

Let’s keep the conversations going. Let’s keep learning. Let’s keep growing.