Bryn Shroeder

There is no good time to be diagnosed with a rare eye cancer, but as a 16-year-old already struggling with my mental health and coming to terms with being queer, I was utterly unprepared.

I had no idea where to turn for help, so as part of the North Star Cancer Collective’s Lived Experience Group, I hope to make support more inclusive and accessible; no young person should go through cancer feeling alone or powerless.

Cancer can negatively impact someone's mental health in a variety of ways, which is why I’m incredibly passionate about the collective’s goal of strengthening mental health support for young people with cancer, along with their families.

Having the right support systems in place is crucial in minimising its effects, so I hope to use my experience with both cancer and mental health care to help improve these systems allowing young people to receive the support they need before, during, and after cancer.