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Our collection of recorded conversations amplify the experiences and perspectives of those living with The Big C. Candidly with Carolyn is leading a third space movement for honest discussions to be had about real every day scenarios that those living with cancer come face-to-face with through diagnosis, treatment and recovery. We hang out, answer your questions and explore themes that intersect with cancer including those not always discussed amongst friends, family members, cancer support networks and in the public discord.
Candidly promises to be as candid as Carolyn Van's 2014-2016 publicly shared intimate in-the-moment journal entries in the days leading up to her diagnosis and through the thick of treatment. Now, with 10+ years worth of perspective from the life altering event, the realization that treatment was the easy part, and calling in other humans to pass the mic to, share and discuss with.
about your host
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Carolyn Van was thriving in her professional and personal life when the atomic bomb that is The Big C suddenly crash landed in her life at 28 years old. Through the tumultuous rollercoaster ride of diagnosis, treatment and everything that comes along with it she advocated for the needs, challenges and perspectives of cancer patients and survivors. Over the past decade, her work has involved catalyzing the inclusion of programming, care and research for underrepresented, minoritized and equity deserving groups within the cancer population.
She has served as an expert for University of Maryland School of Social Work project, Vital Best Practices for Antiracist Patient Engagement in Adolescent & Young Adult Oncology Research and Advocacy. The findings from this study were instructional for AYA oncology researchers, clinicians, and advocates to prevent harmful tokenism and implement genuine antiracist inclusion to advance health equity.
Carolyn has contributed to University Health Network’s (UHN) Adolescent and Young Adults (AYA) Cancer Programming as an on-camera personality for a web series exploring the realities of being a young adult with cancer.
She has been a Steering Committee Member and Speaker for Young Adult Cancer Canada (YACC) where constituents include cancer patients, cancer survivors, caregivers, and researchers. Carolyn is also on the leadership team for the Recover Study, a longitudinal study that aims to understand how AYAs are affected from their diagnosis and treatment over time and how cancer organizations can help.
She was a presenter for Community Based Research Canada (CRBC) where she shared patient engagement methods, processes, goals and opportunities for examining the quality of life in AYAs diagnosed with cancer.
Carolyn has also written for and been profiled for many public media outlets and platforms including Media Planet’s Personal Health News, University Health Network (UHN) newsroom, and She Does The City on various topics on the impact of cancer.
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Outside of cancer advocacy and related works, Carolyn has more than a decade's worth of experience with Senior-Level Management; Leading Program and Service Management Departments; Innovation, Digital Transformation and Scale-up Operations Leadership; Business Management and Technology College Professor; EiR, Evidence-informed Program and Service Director.
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If you have an interesting cancer-related story or have professional expertise working with those who have been impacted by cancer, we want to hear from you! ​​​