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Carmen Monge-Montero: Taking a moment to think about 2024

Carmen Monge-Montero/LinkedIn

Jan 9, 2025, 10:52

Carmen Monge-Montero: Taking a moment to think about 2024

Carmen Monge-Montero, Researcher and Patient Advocate at Youth Cancer Europe, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Today, while planning for 2025, I took a moment to think about 2024—and it was an amazing year for my advocacy journey!

In 2024, I returned to Costa Rica after living abroad for 10 years as an AYA cancer survivor, and I worked on projects I had been dreaming about for a long time. Here are some of the highlights:

Advocacy and Policy Work

I worked with Deputy Daniel Vargas to write and present the Right to Be Forgotten law proposal at the Asamblea Legislativa de la República de Costa Rica. In October, we held a press conference where survivors shared their stories about financial discrimination, showing why this law is so needed in Costa Rica. Also, I presented the advocacy work at the Inspire2Live conference.

International Collaboration

In March, I joined Youth Cancer Europe at the European Parliament to share the “Recommendations for Equitable, Inclusive, and Diverse Cancer Care. In April, I was interviewed by OncoDaily for the AYA survivor week. Later, I travelled to Kenya for the A Fresh Chapter Elevate Program and co-presented on Advocacy for Policy at the Africa Cancer Summit. In December, I presented my migration story as an AYA survivor at the Global AYA Cancer Congress organised by Canteen Australia in Melbourne and co-chaired the LMIC session.

Creative Milestones

I launched my children’s book, Can-Can and the Adventure of Mìng Island, in English and Spanish, with Storyhouse Works. The book helps kids understand cancer and removes the stigma around it. I also published the 100th video on Mano YouTube channel, after years of connecting with cancer survivors from around the world (75 survivors from 36 countries, and this year I met 4 of them in person)

Education and Inclusion

With Youth Cancer Europe for the European Network of Youth Cancer Survivors project, we launched the EDI toolkit and training, which helps healthcare providers, researchers, and patient organizations better support vulnerable communities in cancer care.

Challenges

It was an extraordinary year, but let me be honest: 2024 had many challenges. Behind the successes were rejections from NGOs, media, and other organizations to engage with the Right to Be Forgotten initiative, Can-Can and other projects. There were moments of ghosting, countless unanswered emails, and many declined opportunities.

But as one of my best friends always reminds me, I’m the most stubborn person they know. And that keeps me going!

Looking forward to 2025

I will be moving again, writing and launching Can-Can’s second book, new projects, and graduating from EUPATI. I will also apply to more opportunities and send more emails, knowing some will be rejected, but many will lead to exciting new possibilities.

To all my connections: thank you for being part of my story. Let’s keep pushing boundaries and making an impact together.”

Carmen Monge-Montero: Taking a moment to think about 2024

Carmen Monge-Montero is a researcher and patient advocate at Youth Cancer Europe. She is the founder and content creator at Monge Consultancy and is also an advocate with MANO. In addition to her advocacy work, she is a global cancer advocate and a children’s book author.