Lived Experience

Turning lived experience into awareness, advocacy and hope. Lived Experience is a podcast series by Living with Cancer South Africa that gives a voice to those whose lives have been shaped by cancer. Through honest and inspiring conversations with patients, survivors, caregivers, healthcare professionals and advocates, we explore the realities of living with, through and beyond a cancer diagnosis. Every story shared helps to raise awareness, challenge misconceptions, strengthen advocacy and remind others that they are not alone. Together, these lived experiences are helping to create a more informed, compassionate and patient-centred future for cancer care in South Africa.

Episode 1
Young and Diagnosed

Caitlin Carpenter

At 24 years old, Caitlin Carpenter was building her future, studying towards her law degree, working full time and planning the next chapter of her life when everything changed with a cancer diagnosis.

In this episode of Lived Experience, Caitlin shares the reality of facing Hodgkin’s Lymphoma as a young adult and the profound impact it had on her education, career plans, friendships, independence and future aspirations. She speaks candidly about the isolation of watching peers move forward while life is placed on hold, navigating conversations about dating and the future, and confronting mortality at an age when most people feel invincible.

The conversation explores the unique challenges younger cancer patients face, including the assumptions others make about young people with cancer, the emotional impact of disrupted life plans and the gaps that still exist in support for younger adults navigating diagnosis and treatment.

Through honesty, humour and remarkable resilience, Caitlin offers valuable insight into what it means to be young and diagnosed, reminding us that cancer does not only affect health. It changes timelines, expectations and the future we imagine for ourselves.

We would like to encourage you to join our real-time patient-led cancer registry, share patient insights, read other testimonials, listen to our podcasts and connect with fellow cancer warriors and carers.

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