We are a patient advocate group that is independent of established UK cancer charities because we regard this as the most effective way we can bring our experience as patients and as trained advocates to influence the future of breast cancer research and evidence-based healthcare. We aim to work within the NCRI (National Cancer Research Institute) framework to enable proper monitoring and review of our activities and value.

We want to work in co-operation with UK cancer charities (some of us are members and volunteers for some of the charities), but we have chosen to be independent of them because we feel that cancer patient advocates' views are not always represented by charities and cancer patient advocates do not always have sufficient influence in cancer charities' strategies and advocacy work.

Membership of ICPV

People with experience of Breast Cancer (patients and carers) are welcome to apply to join ICPV. Our Study Days are a good opportunity to meet us, find out more about what we do and decide whether ICPV is right for you. We recognise that there will be differences in the amount of time people are able to give to the work of ICPV and that this will also vary with levels of well-being – for this reason we will have different levels of membership and some advocates will be “virtual members” who will be able to contribute by e-mail or by telephone.

All members are invited to join our online Google Discussion Group. We ask them to agree to respect our confidentiality requirements not to disclose information (including Google Group discussions and information) about us and our work to other organisations, without prior agreement with the ICPV officers.

We advise that people do not apply to join ICPV for at least 2 years after their primary cancer diagnosis because experience tells us that many people will require that length of time to deal with the psychological as well as the physical consequences of a cancer diagnosis.

However we will consider applications from people who have not passed the two year mark if they have carefully thought about this recommendation and still wish to become members.