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Carmen Monge-Montero Highlights Workplace Barriers for Cancer Survivors on World Workers’ Day

Carmen Monge-Montero/LinkedIn

May 2, 2025, 17:01

Carmen Monge-Montero Highlights Workplace Barriers for Cancer Survivors on World Workers’ Day

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

“Hi Network,

Today, on World Workers’ Day, I want to shine a light on a group whose challenges in work and education often go unseen: people with a lived cancer experience.

When I was diagnosed, my doctor warned me:

“Don’t be surprised if you get fired.”

Luckily, that didn’t happen in that job, but the fact that it could shocked me. It made me realize that life after cancer would be far from simple.

In the last 11 years after finishing the treatment, I faced:

Job rejections, despite my qualifications

Dealing with side effects that made it hard to study or work

Getting fired after disclosing my cancer history, which made me afraid to be open in future roles or opportunities

The constant feeling of being behind others my age or in my field

Uncertainty—was I not hired (got the scholarship) because of cancer, or something else? I’ll never know.

Financial struggle, not every country gives disability allowance (having cancer is expensive, even after finishing the treatments)

And that’s part of the problem: not knowing if your past with cancer is silently closing doors.

Many survivors face this. We’re often seen as ‘a risk” or “too complicated.” But behind those assumptions are capable, passionate, resilient people ready to contribute.

In fact, I believe ‘people with a lived cancer experience’ should count as a qualification on our CVs. Why? Because cancer teaches us to:

Navigate challenges creatively

Prioritize mental and physical wellbeing (we don’t want to get sick again!)

Work with purpose and empathy

Grow stronger through adversity

So today, give that opportunity to that person with a lived cancer experience 🙂

This World Workers’ Day, let’s commit to making work a place of dignity, support, and equity, for everyone.”

Carmen Monge-Montero used her own cancer journey to illustrate ongoing workplace and education-related challenges for survivors. She advocated for greater equity and recognition of resilience gained through lived cancer experiences.

More posts featuring Carmen Monge-Montero.