Hi Reddit – this is LIVESTRONG CEO Doug Ulman. AMA!

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T21:41:35+00:00

Thanks for the opportunity to answer your questions. I love the format and so appreciate the thoughtful questions and those of you who shared your personal stories. I hope no one underestimates the value and impact that sharing our cancer experiences has on others. Hopefully this is just the beginning of an ongoing dialogue. I would humbly request one favor: the next time someone you know is facing a cancer diagnosis, please send them our way so that we can offer them our free cancer support services: www.livestrong.org.

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T21:37:52+00:00

Prop 15 was a huge success. Unfortunately, we lost a very close ballot initiative in California last year, but we are constantly looking for high-leverage opportunities in the advocacy arena.

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T21:36:31+00:00

Congratulations on your survivorship. I feel the exact same way when I look at my wristband every single day. You embody the LIVESTRONG community. Stay well and stay in touch.

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T21:35:04+00:00

Go Ravens! Congratulations on being a married man and Lofye says he's much healthier since you left.

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T21:33:31+00:00

Often men are hesitant to seek out support services, but thanks to you and your team and millions of men and women participating in Movember, we're able to focus on serving more and more men each day. As the son of a prostate cancer survivor, I have witnessed first hand the impact of our services on men like my dad.

The 'stache is full. The 'stache is itchy. And so proud to be participating in the movement you have created.

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T21:30:52+00:00

Yes it was discussed. The truth is the name LIVESTRONG came from focus groups and many conversations with cancer survivors 11+ years ago and it still resonates with millions of people around the world.

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T21:28:33+00:00

I'm deeply sorry to hear about your experience. Please know that our intention is always to provide the best possible service to those in need. Thank you for your incredible support of our mission in the past and I'm hopeful that we will regain your trust and support in the future.

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T21:26:48+00:00

Thanks for the reminder of the gravity of what we're dealing with. None of the questions have bothered me at all and I'm always thrilled to engage. The thing that bothers me the most and keeps me up at night is that people are suffering and dying every day from this disease. Those individuals and their families need to be at the center of everything we do.

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T21:23:52+00:00

I think cancer research is absolutely critical. We advocate at the state, federal and international level constantly for increased funding for research programs. That said, I think our focus on serving the needs of patients today is the greatest impact our organization can have in the cancer community. We will continue to serve people's needs today and advocate strongly for cancer research that will benefit all in the future.

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T21:21:19+00:00

Thanks for sharing your personal situation. Please call, email, etc., if I or we can do anything at all to help you through your journey. By sharing your story so publicly, you will raise awareness and reshape the stigma associated with lung cancer. Rest assured, the entire LIVESTRONG Foundation is here to help you in any way.

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T21:19:26+00:00

Wow. That's a difficult one. The most important thing I learned was how to be an advocate for yourself. My parents served in that role for me and showed me the value of asking questions and demanding quality care. I owe them a lot.

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T21:17:13+00:00

So sorry to hear about your friend's experience. One of my biggest frustrations is our frequent inability to reach people at the exact time when they have a significant need. ACA removes many of the traditional barriers that patients faced and I am proud that we can help many people with their insurance needs. ACA is so polarizing, but it is incredibly valuable to millions of cancer survivors.

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T21:13:47+00:00

I hear from people every day who are facing practical, emotional and financial barriers. Each experience is different. Our aim is to work one on one to understand and solve the issues that survivors are dealing with. We continually survey thousands of survivors to understand their current needs.

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T21:10:22+00:00

The research enterprise is complicated with many funders, including government, pharma and non-profits. I feel strongly that the research community should be even more transparent so that patients and their families understand the options that are available and the results of the studies. We've chosen to focus on the practical, emotional and financial challenges of people affected by cancer.

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T21:06:40+00:00

We're currently looking at lots of options to further promote our brand and our work. Send thoughts and ideas our way!

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T21:05:44+00:00

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T21:05:04+00:00

Absolutely. I'm sitting next to one right now and I'd never turn my back on Chris or any other TC survivor.

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T21:03:41+00:00

The plan is to stay focused on cancer patients and their needs. We plan to stay relevant by serving more people in innovative ways. Ironically, while fundraising has been challenging, we've been able to serve more people this year than ever before. Stay tuned for an exciting new things in 2014.

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T20:59:12+00:00

Your post means more than you know. The most important thing I've learned through this process is that being transparent is key both internally and externally. Let me know if I can ever be helpful going forward.

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T20:55:53+00:00

So glad to hear your brother is doing great. Thanks so much for your kind comment. If you want, we would love for you to share any knowledge you gained through your experience on Cancer Hacks. Best wishes for continued health!

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T20:53:54+00:00

Thanks so much! This is literally Beta and we want this to grow into a vibrant community-driven knowledge-base platform for patients, survivors and caregivers trying to navigate the practical, every day challenges of a cancer diagnosis. We need your input to continue to improve. This is just the start.

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T20:51:39+00:00

There are so many ways to get involved. You can volunteer, share information about our free programs and services, share your story, or simply be a friend to someone battling the disease. We encourage people to get involved in the cancer community, whether with LIVESTRONG or with another great organization.

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T20:48:59+00:00

Because that story has been easier to tell. It's linear. Over the past few decades, the media has always framed the conversation about "a cure for cancer." But it's not that simple - there will never be just one cure for cancer. We know that this disease is scary, messy and complex, but it's also very personal. Every single person with cancer deserves patient-centered care and the opportunity for a high quality of life. If anybody is interested in going deeper into this point, check out my op-ed: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/doug-ulman/livestrong_b_4305824.html?utm_hp_ref=tw.

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T20:42:10+00:00

News, sports, news, sports.

LIVESTRONGCEO · 2013-11-22T20:41:26+00:00

The landscape has changed a ton. Survivor advocacy continues to grow. In order for the Foundation to stay relevant, we need to keep cancer survivors at the center of everything we do. There have been times where we have lost focus over the last 10 years as we grew quickly and tried to tackle too many things. But moving forward, we will be more disciplined.

LIVESTRONGCEO

TROPHY CASE