More than 160 people in the first iteration of Youth Survivors of Childhood Cancer event “El futur existeix”
Professionals, families, and young people have reflected on the challenges of “post-cancer” life, and the importance in continuing supporting cancer survivors as a societal responsibility.
It has been a pioneering event anchored by young cancer survivors, with the support and coordination of the Villavecchia Foundation. The first day of Young Survivors of Childhood Cancer “El futur existeix”, celebrated in Casa SEAT of Barcelona, a safe space was offered for reflection, dialogue, and recognition where youth, families, and medical professionals and assistants shared their lived experiences, as well as knowledge and goals to better the care and support in life after illness.
This event, which gathered more than 160 participants, was hosted by digital communicator Maria Bassegoda, also a survivor of childhood cancer, and was inaugurated with the institutional welcoming of Dr. Nuria Pardo, president of the Villavecchia Foundation, and of Dr. Josep M. Borras, Plan Director of Oncology of Cataluña, who emphasized the importance of bringing visibility to the growing collective of childhood cancer survivors (currently an 84% according to RETI-SEHOP) and guarantee them continuing care and attention through adulthood.
Roundtable of young cancer survivors moderated by Yolanda Valle, program coordinator at NES
Subsequently, psychooncologist Marta Pérez (Sant Joan Hospital of Déu) opened the conversation with the presentation “Now what? The future exists”, a reflection about the aftermath of beating the illness and then new emotional, physical, and social obstacles that the youth face: “To return to normalcy requires many attempts to reconstruct yourself and learn a new reality, a new normalcy”.
The first roundtable, moderated by Arantxa De Lara, responsible for the assistance team at the Villavecchia Foundation, included nurse Mari Molero (Sant Joan Hospital in Déu), Dr. Lucas Moreno (Hospital Vall d’Hebron), and Dr. Xoan González Rioja (Sant Pau Hospital). The speakers analyzed the principal clinical and emotional challenges that youth face when finalizing treatment and entering their new stage of life as survivors. One of the reflections centered on the transition from being in a pediatric hospital to attending an adult hospital, which presenter Maria Bassegoda described as “going from Disneyland to a journey of terror.”
Roundtable of professionals of the day for young cancer survivors.
The second roundtable, moderated by Marina González, young cancer survivor, has given voice to parents Gema Fontcuberta, Maria José Gil, Carlos del PIno, and María Menchón, who shared how family life changes after cancer, the confrontation of a new “normalcy”, and what they have learned from these lived experiences.
The most anticipated moment of the day was the roundtable discussion led by youth Anna Lasheras, Ona Llovera, Victor González , and Paula Abad, moderated by Yolanda Valle, responsible for the program “No Estás Sol” at the Villavecchia Foundation. The four participants shared their lived experiences, the difficulties they faced after treatment and the shared aftermath they were confronted with, as well as their respective ways of seeing a future with hope and courage. Among these stories of overcoming obstacles is an impressive achievement by Victor González, who has ran eight iterations of the marathon Titan Desert. “I wish this [the support that is offered by the Foundation] would have existed 20 years ago,” he reflected.
Roundtable of families in ¨El futur existeix¨
During the session, Edgar Jordan, CEO of Aimentia HealthTech, presented the project Next Living Zone, an initiative in conjunction with the Villavecchia Foundation to create a virtual therapeutic space that will offer psychological and emotional support to adolescents with post-childhood-cancer problems.
The day ended with a performance by singer-songwriter Àlex Pérez, with songs like “Seguirem cantant” ending the day full of emotion and important reflections.
Host Maria Bassegoda with young organizers
With more than 160 participants, the first day of “El futuro existe” (“A future exists”) has been a success in participation and has confirmed the necessity to open new spaces for dialogue about life after childhood cancer. The interest that has been generated by this event has also attracted the attention of news outlets, like La Vanguardia, which published this article about their principal reflections.
The Villavecchia Foundation keeps working in bringing visibility to these survivors, strengthen support programs NES (for youth) and NESI (for children) and to promote innovative initiatives that help survivors build a future full of life.
The volunteer team at the Foundation accompanying the young cancer survivors