Health Union accredits Ronny Allan
This was announced in summer 2023 but it took me a while to engage due to my many commitments (including some big personal stuff to sort out) I had a false start, many things took priority for a while but early 2025, I was encouraged to complete it and finally crossed the line in February 2025. Read my Facebook announcement of certification – click here.
My formal certificate was recently received, see below! 
Health Union Acquires WEGO Health – WEGO Health
WEGO Health had the largest network of patient leaders in the world, clearly recognised by Health Union as a fantastic addition to their portfolio. Every year WEGO Health recognised their patient leaders via their renowned awards process. I first discovered them in 2016 and decided to apply. As at 2021, I have now won 3 awards, been in 8 finals following around 27 nominations for various categories. WEGO Health and then Health Union and many of their patient leaders now know about Neuroendocrine Cancer.
The story of WEGO Health and my experience with them is outlined below. I encourage you to watch the 2021 announcements below, so inspiring. The 2021 awards were special because all records were broken in terms of nominees. From 21,000, that had to be reduced to just 96, 6 in each of 16 categories. It’s quite a feat just to get into the finals and I was in awe of the quality of the finalists, to the point that I felt I had no chance of winning anything. So, a third Best in Show award in 2021 was so humbling and I was so proud to be one of the 96 winners from 21,000 nominations. And it’s an award for Neuroendocrine Cancer too, they all are. I am so thankful to those who nominated me, those who endorsed me to make up the numbers needed to become a finalist, and to the judges who saw something they liked in what I’m doing. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!
WEGO Health was a mission-driven company dedicated to transforming healthcare by harnessing the experience, skills and insights of patient leaders. They were a network of over 100,000 patient leaders from all types of illnesses and conditions. I’m proud to be one of them. I’m so pleased that Health Union maintained the awards system and through the accreditation course,l have enhanced the skills, reputation and knowledge of patient leaders
My Health Union/WEGO Award History
5th Annual Awards – 2016
In 2016, I was nominated for 6 awards, selected as a finalist for 2 of those (Blog and Community) and then won the Best in Show Community award. 
Listen to my WEGO Finalist podcast in 2016 – click here or on the picture below.
6th Annual Awards – 2017
In 2017, I was nominated for 3 awards, Blog, Patient Hero and Lifetime Achievement. I actually made the final of all 3 – unsuccessful but proud to have gotten so far in 3 different categories.
7th Annual Awards – 2018
In 2018, I was nominated for 5 awards and made to the final in the Blog category. This is not only another great opportunity for me as a blogger and health activist but also a further opportunity for Neuroendocrine Cancer awareness. After 3 successful finals in the Best in Show Blog category, I finally won over the judges and was declared the winner. This was a real turning point for my work and shortly after that win, my blog views reached 1 million.
8th and 9th Annual Awards – 2019/2020
2019 and 2020. I declined any nominations coming out of the awards; it was a personal choice due to an overload of commitments.
10th Annual Awards – 2021
2021. The story continues with a dozen nominations and a finalist in Blog and Lifetime Achievement. On 23rd September 2021, it was announced that I had won the Lifetime Achievement award. Clearly, I had my eye on the Blog award again but as far as I know, no-one has ever won it twice – that’s probably a good thing, so many patient voices need to be heard. Now …”lifetime” has an air of “retirement” about it but I can assure you while I am over the moon to have won this award, I have zero intentions of retiring. In fact, my intention is to step up a gear, watch this space.
One thing which did catch my eye in the announcements came from Jack Barrette, former CEO of WEGO Health but now Chief Innovation Officer at Health Union who said “….the WEGO Health Awards were born to recognize the patient leaders who often go unrecognized. The folks who lead communities every day with support, education and love.”
You can watch the announcements at this link below. Important to watch the intro and the summary and if you wanted to see my own award for Lifetime Achievement, that’s around the 33-minute mark. It’s an inspiring experience to watch all 16 award announcements – so many worthy patient leaders there, it’s humbling.
Announcing the 10th Annual WEGO Health Awards Winners – WEGO Health
Why awards generate awareness
There’s a number of reasons why awards generate awareness. I said from day 1, my tactics were to generate awareness in new audiences. Sharing my story in new places does this. It’s also a chance to take up speaking and other opportunities in new places. I was totally blown away by a message from Jack Barrette, then CEO of WEGO (now Chief Innovation Office for Health Union). I think really sums up the benefits for Neuroendocrine Cancer.
I’m very grateful for your help in achieving the above.
Thanks for reading.
My Diagnosis and Treatment History
Follow me on X (formerly twitter)
Check out my online presentations
Check out my WEGO Health Awards
Check out my Glossary of Terms – click here
Please Share this post for Neuroendocrine Cancer awareness and to help another patient
Read some of my stuff below
Neuroendocrine Cancer in UK – a growing crisis?
I was delighted to read about the efforts of Dr Arthur Scott, a Member of the UK Parliament (MP). He is a great advocate for cancer patients and recently introduced a rare cancer bill in the UK Parliament which will hopefully make a difference. The content was very interesting and I was drawn to several…
Bone Metastases in Well‑Differentiated NETs – Part 2 – Treatment
DisclaimerThis information is for education and reassurance only.It is not a substitute for personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Bone metastases in neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) vary widely in behaviour, appearance, and clinical significance. Decisions about systemic therapy, radiotherapy, ablation, bone‑targeted agents, surgery, or monitoring must be made by your own specialist NET team, who understand…
Neuroendocrine Tumours – Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
Before you read thisThis information is designed to help you understand how vitamins work in the body and how certain NET-related factors might affect them. It is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. Every NET patient is different — tumour type, treatments, surgery, symptoms, and nutritional needs can vary widely. If you have concerns…
March 2026 Newsletter from Ronny Allan
Here is my monthly summary of March 2026 on RonnyAllan.NET This has been a very good month but to be honest, I had more time at home and on my computer, due to illness. OK I was not that ill that I could not tap away at a keyboard! However, it was pretty erratic access. I…
Understanding Differentiation, Ki‑67, Mitotic Count, Hotspots, Pathology Workflow, and Primary–Metastasis Heterogeneity in Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NENs)
Before you read this… This article discusses pathology concepts such as Ki-67, grading, heterogeneity, and biopsy findings in neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). It is provided for educational purposes only and does not interpret any individual pathology report or scan result. Ki-67 values, tumour grade, and sampling limitations can vary between different biopsies and over time. Their…
Why liver transplant is back in the NET conversation
Before you read this… This article is provided to support understanding of a complex and evolving topic. It explains how liver transplant is being explored in a very small number of NET patients, but it is not suggesting that this treatment is suitable for you or anyone else. Every NET case is unique. Only your…
This too shall pass
If you’ve heard that phrase before, you’re not alone. The phrase is rooted in older Persian and Buddhist teachings, and widely accepted as a testament to the impermanence of all things. Many famous people have used this phrase including Abraham Lincoln, Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro and King Solomon. I’ve also seen various cancer bloggers…
HRT and Neuroendocrine Tumours (NETs): What Patients Need to Know
Before you read this… This article discusses hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in the context of general health, menopause, and neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). It is provided for educational purposes only and does not recommend starting, stopping, or changing any form of HRT. The suitability of HRT depends on many individual factors, including tumour type, grade, hormone…
Blood Clot risks in Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NENs)
I have a personal interest in this subject because I had pulmonary emboli (PE) diagnosed in January 2011 around 6 weeks after I had major surgery. I got a phone call from the hospital to go down that day and meet with a nurse who would teach me to self inject ‘Clexane'(Enoxaparin) and then take…
Neuroendocrine Tumours (NETs) – Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol / Ergocalciferol)
Before you read thisThis information is designed to help you understand how vitamins work in the body and how certain NET-related factors might affect them. It is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. Every NET patient is different — tumour type, treatments, surgery, symptoms, and nutritional needs can vary widely. If you have concerns…
Cancer: Words are important but so is context
Words are very important to cancer patients, some people hang their hats on them and put their feet up, and some people google them until they are tied in a knot, still fraught with worry. Why can’t doctors just tell me in layman’s language? Easy answer ……. because it is not an exact science. Doctors…
Newsletter covering January and February 2026
Overview Many thanks for the support in January and February 2026. This is a double month newsletter due to my 27 day holiday! 2026 Blog Activity for January and February Actually, despite my holiday figures are pretty much normal. I had a great month in December 2025, perhaps I was overperforming as I was anticipating…
Neuroendocrine Tumours (NET) – Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
Before you read thisThis information is designed to help you understand how vitamins work in the body and how certain NET-related factors might affect them. It is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. Every NET patient is different — tumour type, treatments, surgery, symptoms, and nutritional needs can vary widely. If you have concerns…
Sometimes you gotta climb that bridge!
When I was a young lad, I didn’t seem to have a fear of heights, not that I got many chances to test it but a couple of things springs to mind. As a ‘feral youth’ I once climbed to the top of a factory building without fear. I won’t divulge any further detail, just…
50 years of marriage – in sickness and in health
When I was diagnosed with metastatic Neuroendocrine Cancer in 2010, there’s a lot of milestones I doubted I would reach. One is today and I can now tick off another and be thankful for reaching it. I have been married to a kind and beautiful lady for 50 years on – 29th March 2025. I’ve…
Zanzalintinib Versus Everolimus in Participants With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (STELLAR-311)
A Phase 2/3, Multicenter, Randomized Open-Label Study of Zanzalintinib vs Everolimus in Participants With Previously Treated, Unresectable, Locally Advanced or Metastatic Neuroendocrine Tumors. The primary purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of zanzalintinib compared to everolimus in participants with previously treated, unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic neuroendocrine tumors. Zanzalintinib (XL092) is an investigational,…
Next Generation Total-Body PET/CT: Challenges and Opportunities
Long-axial field-of-view (LAFOV) systems have changed the field of molecular imaging. Since their introduction, many PET centres have installed these next-generation digital systems to provide more detailed imaging and acquire PET images in a single bed position. Indeed, vertex to thigh imaging for oncological indications can be obtained in most of the population with the…
Phase 1/2 Trial Evaluating CRN09682 for the Treatment of Neuroendocrine Tumors and Other Somatostatin Receptor 2-Expressing Tumors
Crinetics Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 1/2 Trial Evaluating CRN09682 for the Treatment of Neuroendocrine Tumours and Other Somatostatin Receptor 2-Expressing Tumours Read the news – click here Clinical Trial Document – click here Limited to US (6 locations) (so far). CRN09682, a first‑in‑class non‑peptide drug conjugate (NDC) developed by Crinetics Pharmaceuticals. The company…
Ronny Allan – a review of my blog activity December 2025
Here is the monthly summary of December 2025 on RonnyAllan.NET – Every share helps someone understand or even work towards a diagnosis, discovery of the best doctors and treatments. December is normally a quiet month, often the quietist month of the year. However, this year, it was the best figures for the whole of 2025. …
A review of 2025 on RonnyAllan.NET
Summary of 2025 from Ronny It was a good year for my advocacy work but a difficult year personally which had some impact on my advocacy work. I had to spend quite a bit of time looking after my brother’s affairs when he was diagnosed with dementia and is now living in residential care. That…
15 years of Christmas!
15 Christmas celebrations since diagnosis. A thankful statement My Facebook memories today are full of Christmas activities including my first Christmas following diagnosis of advanced Neuroendocrine Cancer. I had been out of hospital for only 4 weeks following major surgery in 2010. I remember the whole of my own family attended, my son and daughter’s…
Another Next Generation PET/CT is coming soon. The Omni 128cm Total Body PET – Small Australian trial at Peter Mac
A Global first for NET. Omni 128cm Total Body PET at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne Australia. According to Professor Michael Hofman, they have been using the camera for a couple weeks and it is exceeding their expectations. They’re running a short trial comparing results against regular PETs. The great news is that…
Neuroendocrine Cancer: I hadn’t heard of it until I was diagnosed with it
My diagnosis came with many strange words including, “carcinoid” and “neuroendocrine” ……… can you spell that please, I said to the doctor. I had a low ki67 figure from a tissue sample taken percutaneously from my liver, it seemed pretty good that I was only 5 in a range of 0-100 but somehow the word…
Ronny Allan’s ‘PoNETry’ © – An Ode to Invisible Illness
Ronny Allan’s ‘PoNETry’ © series can be shared with poetry credit to: RonnyAllan.NET Thanks for reading Ronny I also have one about Lanreotide (or “butt darts” in general) – click here Click here and answer all questions to join my private Facebook group Thanks for reading. Ronny Blog Facebook. Like this page please. Personal Facebook.…
Neuroendocrine Tumours (NET) – hiding in plain sight – an awareness post from Ronny Allan
When I was diagnosed, I didn’t even feel ill. It was therefore a bit of a shock being told I had metastatic cancer, advanced enough to kill me without treatment. It was hiding But it did make me think back to some minor irritants, or to be accurate what I thought were minor irritants, things that…
Ronny Allan – just a wee Scottish guy with a computer
I was assessing performance of the awareness period in November 2025 on Facebook and was astonished to find the size of my reach on that platform. It appears I reached well over half a million people (572,700 to be exact) when adding up the performance of my 3 public Facebook pages (from left to right…
Ronny Allan – a review of my blog activity November 2025
Here is the monthly summary of November 2025 on RonnyAllan.NET – Every share helps someone understand or even work towards a diagnosis, discovery of the best doctors and treatments. November is not a good month for me because I tend to think back to the worrying times when I had surgery and spent most of…
Bone metastases in Neuroendocrine Tumours (NET) – Part 1
DisclaimerThis information is for education and reassurance only.It is not a substitute for personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Bone metastases in neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) vary widely in behaviour, appearance, and clinical significance. Decisions about systemic therapy, radiotherapy, ablation, bone‑targeted agents, surgery, or monitoring must be made by your own specialist NET team, who understand…
MP0712 (212Pb x DLL3), Radio-DARPin – DLL3 Radioligand Therapy Trial for Neuroendocrine Neoplasms
What is Radioligand Therapy? When you browse the internet, you may see the term “Radioligand Therapy (RLT)” and wondered what it is. There’s a simple explanation to what it is; and why you may be seeing more of it. Firstly, you will all be aware of Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT), right? Well that is…
Please Share this post for Neuroendocrine Cancer awareness and to help another patient
Discover more from Ronny Allan - Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Ronny Allen’s e-mails on neuroendocrine cancer, recommended by a friend who has the same neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer as does my husband, have been a wealth of information and a comfort in knowing how well others are able to live with this incurable but treatable rare type of cancer. We have recommended Ronny Allen’s site to others when we have learned of someone who has NETs.