Sample Text – Letter to the Editor

You can use this as a template to send a letter to your local newspapers.  Just personalize the letter with your own story.

Dear Editor:

Bladder cancer is the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, yet most people know nothing about it. This lack of public awareness leaves many bladder cancer survivors feeling isolated and alone and contributes to the lack of research dollars devoted to the disease and to the lack of advancement in treatment options over the past two decades.

Last year, over 70,000 people in the US were diagnosed with bladder cancer and over 14,000 people died from it.  Bladder cancer has a recurrence rate of 50-80% and because it requires life-long surveillance, it is the most expensive cancer to treat on a per patient basis.  It is estimated that $2.9 billion is spent in the US each year on the treatment of bladder cancer.  For more information about bladder cancer, you can visit the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network website at www.bcan.org.

As [a bladder cancer survivor/caregiver/someone who has lost a loved one to bladder cancer] I want to be sure that everyone knows to go see a doctor if they notice blood in their urine or urinary urgency or frequency.  I also want to be sure that no one has to go through their bladder cancer journey alone.

[You are welcome to say 1-4 sentences about your journey with bladder cancer here.  This is optional.]

Thank you for helping raise awareness of this devastating disease.

Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]

[contact information]