The Cancer Health 25 is an annual list that honors individuals who have made a difference in the lives of people with cancer. This year’s theme is quality of life. To see the full list, click here. 

 

Monica Fawzy Bryant, JD, 41, is a distinguished cancer rights attorney. Her goal is to help people with cancer move beyond their diagnosis to successful long-term survival. She dedicates her time and expertise to offering people with the disease and their caregivers practical and legal education about cancer survivorship.

Bryant carries out her work through Triage Cancer, a nonprofit she helped found with her sister in 2012. As chief operating officer, Bryant oversees the organization’s day-to-day operations to ensure people living with cancer can access all the resources they need. Among these is the Legal and Financial Navigation Program, which provides free one-on-one help in areas including health and disability insurance, estate planning and employment.

In 2021, Triage Cancer reached over a million people. This year, the organization celebrates its 10th  anniversary.

Bryant shares her knowledge regarding cancer rights with others through seminars, media and literature. She is the coauthor of Cancer Rights Law (2018), the first and only book on this subject. In addition, she cowrote a chapter on cancer-related legal issues for the Oncology Nursing Society’s book Oncology Nurse Navigation: Delivering Patient-Centered Care Across the Continuum (2020).

Bryant works closely with other national cancer organizations to provide expert reviews. In her spare time, Bryant teaches law students about cancer rights as an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Law. She also serves as the resident legal expert for Patients Rising, a podcast that focuses on patient advocacy.