How do patient advocacy groups get started? What motivates people to get engaged and involved? How do they become enabled and empowered?

A milestone event was held on July 20th, 2013 in Toronto to highlight the plight of women suffering from uterine fibroids and the associated heavy menstrual bleeding.

Women from across Canada who suffer from uterine fibroids came together to meet, share and brainstorm to create the first authentic patient voice in Canada regarding this important area of women’s health.

The significance of this event lies in the impact of this condition on the whole patient experience from living with the disease, diagnosis, treatment to follow up. Uterine fibroids account for more hysterectomies in Canada than any other condition. According to the National Uterine Fibroids Foundation (NUFF) in the U.S., up to 80 percent of all women have uterine fibroids. While the majority never have symptoms, one in four ends up with symptoms severe enough to require treatment and the experience can be horrifying.

In Canada, there is no organization such as NUFF, no unified or organized patient voice, to advocate for timely and appropriate care and treatment of women who have suffered unbelievable pain, discomfort, embarrassment, humiliation and anger due to uterine [...] continue the story