In January 2021, Youth Cancer Europe hosted a virtual roundtable and Q&A on “Chemo Brain: Cancer & Mental Health” with a stellar line-up of speakers from the cancer community. Lauren Mahon (aka Girl vs Cancer) and Leanne Pero were joined by YCE’s Bradley Gudger, Andrea Ruano, Erik Sturesson and Emi Schipor.

“When you come out of the other side of it… that’s when you need the help because you’re processing what’s just happened” — Lauren Mahon (Girl Vs Cancer), a young cancer survivor and active patient advocate from the UK, discussed the mental health impact of cancer during and after treatment, and how it affects all areas of a survivor’s life.

“My oncologist said to me: <<I’ve had young girls refusing treatment because they believe their God is going to cure them>>” — Leanne Pero, founder of Black Women Rising and The Leanne Pero Foundation, as well as a cancer survivor and active patient advocate, discussed the representation of cancer patients within the black and Asian communities in the UK. She talked about how myths & taboos within some communities put patients at risk.

“1 in 7 members of the LGBTQ+ community are refusing healthcare altogether because they’re afraid of discrimination” — Brad Gudger, a two-time cancer survivor and active patient advocate from the UK, discussed cultural and community discrimination issues. As a proud gay man, he is passionate about the representation and health outcomes of the LGBTQ+ community.

“I was accused by another cancer patient of using the disease to become more popular” — Andrea Ruano, a young cancer survivor and active patient advocate from Spain talked about the mental health impact of cancer during and after treatment. As Andrea said, cyberbullying is a very real issue, and many of us are attacked for expressing our experiences in our own way. She says that “art is an escape that has aided in my mental health and stability while dealing with life-long issues from cancer treatment.”

“It’s like a surgeon only treating the outside layer of a wound” — Erik Sturesson, a young cancer survivor and active patient advocate from Sweden, discussed the mental health impact of cancer during and after treatment, and how it affects all areas of a survivor’s life. Erik is very open about the fact that after cancer had been treated, he has been plagued with late complications ever since, struggling with both mental and physical ailments. He distanced himself from everything cancer, except follow-up visits to the hospital. After experiencing deep depression and fatigue, he discovered that his medical team weren’t transparent about the long-term effects of cancer. It was then that he decided to start advocating for better post-cancer treatment, especially mental health support.

“I only found out years later that I could have had a say in decisions that affected my fertility, and it still haunts me to this day” — Emi Schipor, a young cancer survivor and active patient advocate from Romania, discussed the implications of past cancer treatment on dating and new relationships on issues like fertility preservation.