Young Adult Cancer Canada: We Get It Young Adult Cancer Canada

In this episode, Alex and Gerald share experiences with volunteering and events within YACC, and why it’s been so important for both of them to give back! Gerald also shares the multi-faceted approach to fundraising and volunteer work, whether it’s within the cancer community or more broadly, and how it’s defined who he is. —
Gerald Mak is currently a strategy manager within the Ontario Government (Crown Agency). Prior to joining the public sector, Gerald worked in various financial and professional institutions with roles in risk, communications, and technology.
With over 15 years in community service, he has volunteered and served on various boards and advisory committees including St. John Ambulance, City of Toronto, Toronto District School Board, Digital Media Zone, Big Brothers and Sisters of Toronto, Toronto Police Service, Ryerson University, University Health Network, and Junior Achievement Ontario. Gerald is extremely passionate about his community and the well-being of others.
Thank you to our partners at CIBC for supporting this series!

In this week’s episode, Alex and YACCer Harman chat about Harman’s diagnosis of sarcoma during his high school days, and how dealing with that emotionally and physically at a young age affected him.
Harman touches on how he’s utilized mindfulness, meditation, and reframing your perspective on life to navigate his world through multiple cancer diagnoses, and where he is at as a result today.
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Harman describes himself as a: Brother. Friend. Cancer Survivor. Old Soul. Biker. Raptors Fan. Spiritual Human. Artist.
 
Thank you to our partners at CIBC for supporting this web series!

This week’s episode of We Get It features a chat with Joe Bakhmoutski, founder and champion of Simplify Cancer. Joe said, “Going through cancer forced me to have a long, hard look at myself and my life. I did not like some things, and some things no longer fit, so I adapted to be more present with the people I care about the most, and rediscovered my sense of purpose through helping others who want to lead a happier, more fulfilled life after cancer. I believe we can choose the way we live our life, to seek greater clarity in everything that we do, to show up at our best every single day, and hold on to hope that despite the struggle, things can — and do — change for the better!”
LINKS:
Finding Hope In Times Of Uncertainty
Simplify Cancer Podcast
Thank you to our partners at CIBC for making this web series possible!

In this week’s episode, Alex chats with fellow YACCtivist Heather Brown about her role advocating for the cancer community’s resources, sharing her story, and all of the important human occupations that deserve more attention! The two also touch on parenting and how a cancer diagnosis is brought to light to children from a parent’s perspective.
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HEATHER’S BIO: I identify as an English Canadian, and am married with two children. I am a thyroid cancer survivor, enjoy watching rom coms and superhero movies, a lover of many types of music, and someone who is driven to care for others and strives to be involved and volunteer to help make a difference in the community. Through my cancer journey, I dealt with isolation, fear of recurrence, and anxiety. As a YACCtivist, I am eager to help fellow AYAs to feel supported and help create more awareness about their AYA cancer experience. In the episode, Heather has shoulder length brown hair. She is wearing a blue shirt. She is sitting in her home office.
You can check out all of the videos on YouTube or website!
Thank you to our partners at CIBC for making this web series possible!

In this week’s episode, Alex’s mother/caregiver/supporter, Val Mandarino, joins him for a chat.
You can check out all of the videos on YouTube or website!
Thank you to our partners at CIBC for making this web series possible!

A familiar face joins the We Get It program this week as Kayla Tremblett joins Alex to discuss her introduction to YACC and how she quickly stepped into a leadership volunteer role after taking so much away from the inclusive programming. The two also touch on their Localife experiences and how cancer played a role in Kayla’s entrepreneur ventures!
-LINKS-
Localife
Simple Ritual Candles
This Infernal Racket
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Kayla identifies as an Estonian-Canadian pansexual female, currently in a relationship. “I like to tell people I was in my prime before cancer. I was energetic, busy and happy but definitely naive. I was active, loved nutrition and fitness, very social and really was just living life.”
When Kayla was diagnosed and faced a two-and-a-half year treatment protocol as well as years of recovery, she felt alone, lost, and disconnected. “It was not until 2017, about one-and-a-half years after I had finished my treatment that I finally was able to start my healing process. I really struggled with PTSD, depression and anxiety in the first four years of my recovery. I still struggle but I now have a strong sense of myself, who and what is important in life. I am still working on myself, and working through my emotions from cancer, but I am a better person than I ever was, and I take every day as a gift.”
You can check out all of the videos on YouTube or website!
Thank you to our partners at CIBC for making this web series possible!