Edmonton cancer survivor advocates for better support for young cancer patients

Two years after Mandy Lamothe was first diagnosed with thyroid cancer, her cancer spread to her lymph nodes and later on to her lungs.

“I was terrified because I was like I don’t have anyone my age,” said Mandy Lamothe, Cancer survivor. “I’m like you know 35ish by this point. It’s been a long crazy journey.”

Sharing her experience on National Cancer survivors’ day Sunday, Lamothe says the disease took a toll not only on her physical health, but also her mental well-being.

“I didn’t get any support,” said Lamothe. “I was told my cancer is the best cancer to have. That don’t worry just quick surgery you’ll be fine. But like there were days where my joint would swell up and my husband would have to help me out of bed and I’m like 32. I just didn’t know where to turn because I wasn’t getting support anywhere.”

Survivors like Lamothe said the day is an opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges facing young adult cancer survivors throughout their journeys

“It’s weird because I’m in my 30s,” said Lamothe.  “My body shouldn’t be failing like this, right and you don’t know where you belong. You have your group of friends that are getting married and having children and travelling and then you’re sick and life kind of pauses.”

Lamothe said she found the Young Adult Cancer Canada (YACC), which supports young adults dealing with cancer.

“All these people were like welcome home, and we have your back,” said Lamothe. “I have that cancer too. And it was just so nice to be like wow I’m validated for the first time in years. I don’t even know where I was before YACC anymore.”

“I’ve been around the cancer system since the late 90s and for the last two and a half two decades I have seen how focused it is on treatment and I know how important that is,” said Geoff Eaton, YACC. “But I’ve also seen how that hyperfocus on treatment has really left a lot of parts of the patients experience neglected or overlooked.” 

Eaton is a two-time cancer survivor. He said his organization helps survivors build a life-changing community across Canada through peer support and mental health resources.

“I don’t want to just talk about being alive,” said Eaton. “I want to have a life worth living. It’s not a win to me to have somebody hit remission and be on the other side but to come out of that where physically are totally wrecked, their mental health is in terrible shape, financially they been wrecked or sidelined. That’s not a win”

Both survivors say more work needs to be done to help young adult cancer survivors have a holistic recovery beyond treatment.