We launched YACC Web: Talks early in the quarantine, a “weekly” webcast with an expert on an issue surrounding the young adult cancer experience. As life continued to evolve over the last few months, this webcast did, too. Now, with schedules back to somewhat normal, we learned a 90-minute live webcast on Thursday afternoons wasn’t ideal for most of our community members, so we’re switching it up again!
The original We Get It web series was released as a one-time project back in 2009. We spoke with members of the YACC community about issues faced by young adults dealing with cancer in their late teens, 20s, and 30s. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we realized it was the perfect time to bring back these deep dives into issues and challenges that affect the young adult cancer community so we updated the program and launched a “weekly” webcast with an expert on an issue surrounding the young adult cancer experience.
We Get It season 3 featured a series of conversations led by YACCer Alex Mandarino.
Up Next - TBA
We are currently prepping season 4 of We Get It, due to launch in spring 2023! Join us each Monday as we talk to a survivor, supporter, health professional, or lifestyle expert to help you live with, through, and beyond cancer! Videos will be posted here, our YouTube channel, and our Facebook page.
Latest Episode
In the final episode of season three, Alex speaks with Marla Brennan as she shares her insight and experience on an abstract concept: imagination!
A performing artist her whole life, Marla combined her love of acting, theatre, singing, and juggling to curate Imagination Meets Cancer. She shares the background of this project, along with her cancer experience and her goals in the future.
Production of YACC Web: Talks has been made possible through collaboration and financial support from the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer Corporation and Health Canada.
The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer Corporation or Health Canada.
This program is made possible thanks to the generous support of
Alex
Alex (he/him) is a lover of coffee and espresso, but ironically not a morning person — much to his recent surprise! He wears his heart on his sleeve, much to the excitement or dismay of those around him when he watches a Toronto Maple Leafs game. He classifies himself as an introvert, but good luck getting him to pipe down when he’s around his friends — especially those he’s made through his 4+ years interacting with the YACC community.
Originally from Brampton, Ontario, he once trekked halfway across the country in 2017 to attend his first Survivor Conference with YACC in St John’s, NL, and was instantly hooked with the immense community that was created over just four days. After getting “Screeched in” with the seal of a codfish kiss, it didn’t take much else to realize YACC was the missing piece to the cancer puzzle.
Alex believes there aren’t many things more powerful than sharing your story, considering it is one of one. Not only can this create a cathartic experience for the teller, but it paves the way for others to be vulnerable. This abundance of collective healing and understanding is a privilege that few outside the cancer community experience.
With We Get It, Alex will attempt to offer information to all YACCers and supporters who are feeing isolated and unheard, and show them that there are resources and voices in their corner throughout the entire journey.