(UroToday.com) In this presentation, Mr. Geissler, a long-time cancer survivor and patient advocate discussed how qualitative data from patients can strengthen cancer research. He began by describing the difficult trade-offs that are often the norm for cancer patients: choosing between either proven or unknown therapies that have a range of side effects that can range from bad to ugly. Researchers and institutions can utilize the unique insights of the patient community to further understand these trade-offs. Patients can enunciate what true “unmet needs” are in a disease, and what they find valuable. Discussing these perspectives can help identify information gaps that hinder informed decision-making, understand how diagnostics and side effects impact quality of life, and what other practice challenges exist in cancer care.