Stories
Stories are a powerful tool for communication, support, and building community.
Our story collection includes links to first hand accounts, digital stories, articles, comics, zines, anthologies and more. Click on the coloured tags to view by topic.
“Our stories are important. Our stories are sacred...and my story is sacred. Being able to connect with other queer people who have experienced cancer, it makes it feel like the experience is less isolating. ”
Strength in spirit, medicine, & community
Chief Allan Polchies of Sitansisk First Nation in New Brunswick was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at 41.
ENBY breast/chest cancer
Mike, a non-binary illustrator, animator, designer, & filmmaker from Calgary, discusses their breast/chest cancer & navigating gendered spaces.
Hushed voices & red faces
Sarah-Jane discusses living with advanced gyne cancer & the effects of fat bias, medical misinformation & homophobia.
Medical bias & missing the signs
As a young woman, Jennifer Trefzger was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer. Her diagnosis was a result of a surprise finding through routine bloodwork as part of her gender-affirming care.
Doing cancer, queerly!
Mel Erwin has stage 4 lung cancer. Her cancer co-pilot is her fiancee, Sarah. Together 8 years, & coming out later in life, Mel shares what it’s like for her living queerly in cancerland.
Coming out
A digital story (video) from the Cancer’s Margins project exploring bisexuality & breast cancer.
“In that moment, everything changed”
Ash's breast/chest cancer was found after his top surgery leading to gruelling treatment & a redefining of self.
Love, death, & visibility
The documentary tells the story of Kim Acquaviva & her wife, Kathy Brandt, who died of cancer in 2019 at the age of fifty-four.
"Dysphoria can be really crippling"
James lives in Newfoundland and Labrador. He was diagnosed with stage 4 endometrial cancer in 2021.
Navigating ovarian cancer as a trans man
Tristan Bilash was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer in his 30s. His diagnosis & treatment were entwined with his gender dysphoria & his developing identity as a man of trans experience.
Marks of majesty: breast cancer & art
An inspirational art project, showcasing people impacted by breast cancer, including folks that are non-white, pre-menopausal, queer or transgender.
Two new moms & a cancer diagnosis
A digital story (video) from the Cancer’s Margins project exploring parenthood & a breast cancer diagnosis.
Robert Eads: Southern comfort
Trans man Robert Eads faced medical neglect before late-stage ovarian cancer treatment; his story inspired the documentary Southern Comfort.
Navigating gender-affirming care and breast/chest cancer
Spencer balanced cancer surgery & hormone treatment with his ongoing transition journey.
Two times the cancer, one hell of a queer journey
Peter's experiences demonstrate the challenges of navigating a gendered cancer as a gay man & the importance of queer resilience.
Gender-affirming flat closure
Melly Testa faced medical and insurance resistance after choosing aesthetic flat closure surgery.
Not quite that
This short Canadian documentary tells the story of Sarah & her decision to undergo elective surgery (a preventative double mastectomy) for a BRCA mutation that puts her at high risk for breast cancer.
Love notes from the chemo room
Poet & activist Andrea Gibson lived with late stage ovarian cancer.
Share your story
If you have a story you’d like to share (you can be anonymous or use a pseudonym) we would love to hear from you.