Joan Durnell-Powell has lived with a diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare blood cancer, since 2014. As a patient and advocate on a low fixed income, she finds it difficult to maintain a monthly budget—causing her to worry not only about the stress of her disease but also her out-of-pocket medical costs. Joan believes her role as a patient advocate is especially important—since African American women are an underrepresented group when it comes to advocacy efforts. In addition to being a passionate advocate for people with her condition, she also serves in several roles with local civic organizations in California.
We’re not just patients, we’re partners. My hope is that the PAN Foundation’s Patient and Family Advisory Council will center the patient experience, enabling us to improve patients’ quality of life.
Joan Durnell-Powell