Megan-Claire J. Chase, Breast Cancer Program Director at SHARE Cancer Support, shared on LinkedIn:
“When I was first diagnosed as a Black AYA (Adolescent and Young Adult) cancer patient, I searched for support groups hoping to find connection and understanding. What I found instead was isolation in spaces meant to offer community.
Too often, I was the only Black person in the room. And while everyone was kind, the unspoken reality was clear – these groups weren’t built with me in mind.
I needed more than general support. I needed to feel seen, culturally understood, and safe to speak without having to explain why certain parts of this experience hit differently.
So I stopped going.
It saddens me that we often have to segregate ourselves because representation matters not just in care, but in community.”