CanTeen Serves up Cancer Support
On this World Cancer Day, we celebrate the amazing work organisations are doing across the globe to support those suffering with cancer and their families. CanTeen is here for you if you’re 12-25 and cancer has turned your world upside down. Bec Sampson, a 22 year old survivor shares her story with us.
Could you share a little bit about your story and how you discovered CanTeen as an opportunity?
I was 17 years old, six weeks into my final year at high school, playing competitive basketball and had attended my school ball three days earlier. Life was simple and good, I was healthy. I woke in the night with some odd chest pain but it wasn’t too bad so I ignored it. In the morning it seemed to be worse so I told my mum who made my stay home from school which I was annoyed about as I was one of those kids who loved school. However she noticed that I couldn’t breathe very well and decided to take me up to the hospital to get checked out.
The emergency doctors ran some tests but sent me home with ‘gastric reflux’. Later that day I got a call asking me to come back to the hospital as my blood tests were off, probably just a computer error when testing. I waited around at the hospital and had my blood taken again. I was admitted to a ward however I was still completely oblivious as to what was going on. It was that evening that my whole world was flipped upside down with three words, “You have leukaemia.”
Everything that made me who I was, was taken away in an instant. I couldn’t go to school, I couldn’t play sports, I was confined to the hospital and my bed at home for the next eight months. I underwent almost daily blood tests, chemotherapy, received countless blood transfusions and painful procedures. I spent two and a half years on chemotherapy and have been in remission since September 2016.
During my first month of treatment, I discovered CanTeen when my social worker, provided by the hospital, recommended it to me. I began getting individualised support straight away and attended free counselling with one of CanTeen’s specially trained counsellors to help me understand the changes that were happening in my life. About halfway through my intensive treatment I attended my first program with other members which was scary but everyone was super welcoming and I have attended day programs and camps ever since.
Before you discovered CanTeen- what were some ways you were dealing with what you were going through?
Before discovering CanTeen I felt very alone. I didn’t think anyone could understand what I was going through. My friends were doing their best to try to understand and be there for me but you they didn’t really get it. Seventeen year old’s shouldn’t have to understand cancer. I was doing my best to just take each day at a time, stay positive and understand what was happening but it was a really isolating experience. It wasn’t until I attended my first program that I realised that other young people were facing similar things.
The 2019-2021 World Cancer Day theme is: 'I Am and I Will.'. It is an empowering call to action urging for personal commitment and represents the power of individual action taken now to impact the future. How does the work you do with CanTeen fit into this theme?
I think CanTeen’s work as a whole fits in with this year's World Cancer Day theme because they are creating change for young people impacted by cancer. By combining both individual and peer support, young people feel understood, empowered to share their story and help each other get through something really tough.
At an individual level, my work with CanTeen also means I align with the theme. My peer facilitator role at CanTeen means that I can attend under 18 programs as a mentor and help others who are going through one of the hardest times in their life. I think that it can be inspiring for members to see someone who is thriving after going through something similar to them because at the time it can be difficult to see your way through it.
My Youth Ambassador role also fits the personal commitment to taking action to change the future as I get to tell my story in a way that spreads the word about CanTeen and helps others discover the support service.
CanTeen changed my life and if I can help do the same for even one other young person impacted by cancer, I will feel like I have done my part.
Could you please explain CanTeen Connect and how it will benefit young people?
CanTeen Connect is an online platform where young people impacted by cancer can interact with each other through group discussions or private messages. They can view upcoming events being run by CanTeen and even schedule an appointment with a specially trained counsellor online, face to face or over the phone. There is also a platform for parents who may have a cancer diagnosis or have a family member impacted by cancer. They can connect with other parents with similar challenges and access resources to help their family.
All young people impacted by cancer can benefit from the service as it is free, can be accessed anytime from anywhere and interaction with others who understand what it’s like to have cancer as part of your life when you are young is so valuable. There are some groups of young people who can majorly benefit.
Firstly, young people who live rurally can have access to resources they may not have previously had access to. Secondly, young people who are receiving treatment can interact with other young people from hospital or home if they are unable to attend CanTeen events. Similarly if a young person’s family member is going through treatment, it may be difficult to find the time to attend a program with other young people but CanTeen Connect can still help them interact with young people who get it.
CanTeen Connect can also be helpful for young people who are maybe not confident interacting with others face to face or aren’t quite ready to talk about their experience in person.
What are some words of encouragement/ coping mechanisms you found most beneficial when going through this period of time in your life?
For me, I found just getting on with each day one at a time was important because if you look too far ahead it can be super overwhelming. Then as I was at the end of my treatment it was important to start talking about what I was going through with people who understood. I think another thing that young people may not be confident to do is to speak up and advocate for yourself when cancer is in your life.
Tell others what you need to make you feel the best you can about what you are going through.
For young people who still don't feel confident enough to open up and share their story- what are some words of wisdom you could share with them?
It can be really hard to open up about your story. You went through something difficult and it will feel uncomfortable at first. I found that starting small, chatting with someone who had a similar experience or with a close friend in a casual environment was a great first step. If you find it helpful, a counsellor can also be a great person to speak to as it is a judgement free, safe environment.
Often when people don’t give the positive reaction you are looking for, it can simply be because they don’t understand or don’t know what to say, it usually isn’t personal. Then gradually I felt more and more confident to add more detail when talking about what I went through. Now I feel entirely comfortable sharing my story. With the help of CanTeen I have shared my story with a range of groups including nurses and doctors, fundraisers and the media.
I have learnt that people are interested, curious and want to learn about things they don’t understand.
How does the role of Youth Ambassador at CanTeen assist positively in all other aspects of your life? i.e social confidence etc?
Becoming a Youth Ambassador has helped me immensely with my confidence in terms of public speaking, sharing my story and speaking with a range of people including ministers, charity partners and the media.
Feeling empowered to share what I have been through has taken a massive weight off my shoulders in day to day life as I don’t feel like my cancer has to be a big secret.
I have become more confident in life also as I feel like I can just be who I am, tell my story to people and deal with responses that may be negative. I learnt that everyone has a story to tell and even if you don’t think your story is very interesting or worth telling, there are always people that are interested, and your story is unique and part of you.
What do you hope to achieve with CanTeen in 2020?
In 2020 I want to continue to spread the word of who CanTeen is and what we do. I think that the work CanTeen does is incredible and I want to help ensure that all young people impacted by cancer have the opportunity to discover the help that is there. I also want to continue to empower young people within the organisation be it to tell their story or to become youth leaders and develop their leadership skills in and out of CanTeen.
From a mental health perspective- what ways would you advise for young people to keep a healthy and happy mindset?
I think that when it comes to mental health and keeping a happy and healthy mind everyone is different and should find what works for them. My cancer experience took a toll on my mental health and balancing this with university studies meant that and I had to learn strategies that work for me. Personally, I need to ensure that I take time out for myself to do things I enjoy such as art or going to the gym and listening to music. I make sure that I get enough sleep, eat well and prioritise myself when I need to. Sometimes I need to be honest and speak up, tell someone I need help or miss out on something social if I think it will benefit me at that time. Balance is the key for me I think.
In your opinion- do you believe that young people are exposed to enough resources on how to cope when going through cancer? If not, how do you think we can promote resources like CanTeen further to the community?
Personally I didn’t know anything about cancer when I was diagnosed or what help was available so no, I don’t think there is enough exposure to resources. I had no idea where to turn until my social worker recommended CanTeen and from there I got referred to any other resources that could help me. I think there is definitely a lack of awareness about resources for young people. Cancer is often thought of as something older people go through and this can be a barrier for young people to talk about it.
To promote resources like CanTeen I think there just needs to be more conversation and education about cancer impacting young people.
It can be hard to talk about but that’s how we make change.
For more information on CanTeen, you can visit their website and donate online to support their cause: https://www.canteen.org.au/
