Carmen Monge-Montero, Researcher and Global Cancer Advocate, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“This will be a short post about my first American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference.
Are you kidding? There’s not such a thing as a small post of this event, actually this is a long one and still I’m not including everything, but I’ll try. If is too long, at least check the last comment of the post to read the explanantion of the last two photos.
After an intense week of learning, conversations, walking around 40km, and feeling small but at the same time inspire to do big things. I am returning home so grateful for ASCO Patient Advocate Award that led me to have this experience.
I had the opportunity to learn about advances in AYA cancer care, patient-centred research, and how we can create more equitable cancer care systems around the world. I’m very excited to keep working with global AYA community and create new projects.
I was inspired by discussions on:
• improving cancer care in LMIC through innovation and AI
• measuring and advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in healthcare systems
• increasing global accessibility to treatments and quality cancer care
• strengthening the role of patient advocates in shaping research, policy, and care
• Palliative care in AYA patients and how important is to introduce them since the beginning
One of the highlights was the Patient Advocate Booths and learning about incredible initiatives led by advocates. Great ideas often come directly from lived experience and community leadership.
Apart from the sessions, what I will remember most are the people. Reconnecting with friends, meeting online connections in person for the first time, and having conversations that may lead to future collaborations was truly special.
It was great to represent MANO and bring the perspective of patients and advocates from our community into conversations taking place on a global stage.
I am grateful to Inspire2Live for supporting my participation in this event and for their constant support to my patient advocacy journey. I look forward to continuing to work together towards a future with greater global accessibility to treatments, more equitable cancer care, and stronger patient voices worldwide.
I am leaving ASCO with new ideas, new friendships, new collaborations, and renewed motivation to continue advocating for AYA patients and for a more inclusive and accessible future in cancer care.
Pura Vida.
PS. Look the last two photos! the perfect explanation of me flying to be together with Katell Maguet, no better representation of the meaning of this conference.”
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