Check out the highlights from our recent event at the European Parliament in Brussels to present our white paper and to tackle the first of five key issues addressed in it, the “Right To Be Forgotten” for cancer survivors.

Our event is already creating ripples across Europe. We were invited to the BBC to talk about the issue of financial discrimination against cancer survivors, which was also echoed by The Independent and the Daily Mirror newspaper. As a result, UK MPs and the ABI (Association of British Insurers) are already taking part in the conversation.

This is only the beginning of a long road ahead as we engage with institutions and stakeholders across Europe to create a brighter future for young people living with cancer.

“Today we are launching our white paper where we address five very particular issues and where we issue five calls to action. It’s not enough that we talk about cancer generally and it’s not enough that we talk about the patient experience generally. It’s very important that issues that are relevant for youth are talked about.”

Katie Rizvi, Co-Founder and CEO, YCE

“This event is really important because we need to increase awareness and to sensitise various stakeholders about the main issue of discrimination and cancer survivorship. There are more and more survivors, they are young and they have a whole life ahead of them, so it’s really important to involve the youth.”

Françoise Meunier, Director Special Projects, EORTC

“It’s really wonderful seeing our hard work come to fruition and it’s unbelievable that we are actually here in the European Parliament talking about youth cancer rights. Youth Cancer Europe are enabling us, young people, to change the lives of other young people across Europe. We are the only ones who understand what it’s like to go trough these services. So, ultimately, we should be the ones deciding on what happens to them for future generations.”

Bradley Gudger, YCE Ambassador

“We bring a different perspective. For us, it is not a short-term indication, a short-term experience; cancer stays with us for life. Then there are impairments that we are facing for life and some of them we should not face. Today we have shown that we will do what is necessary to address key stakeholders and policy makers to ensure that those who live with cancer are no longer abandoned by their institutions and facing harsher discrimination than convicted criminals. France has already lead the way in showing that this can be done with supportive legislation, and we will continue to push until this becomes a reality for everyone in Europe.”

Šarūnas Narbutas, Co-Founder and Chairman, YCE

“I didn’t know how great of an impact it could have financially, in mortgage, in insurance and then applying for a job. That is unfair discrimination which we need to stop in Europe.”

Sirpa Pietikäinen, MEP

“It is clear that for young people the situation is even harder because they are at the beginning of their life, they have passed through difficult treatments and then, they are facing many other barriers.”

Cristian-Silviu Buşoi, MEP

“There is a desire to bring insurance as quickly as possible to people, and often that means we move away from very exact risk assessment. Which is unfortunate, because that usually has a sort of negative outcome for those with a history of cancer. And I think that reminder is always worth giving to the companies who are perhaps overly focused on the cost, but not on the consumer. There is an awful lot of desire to bring about change. The passion showed today, as already said, was more likely to come from Youth Cancer Europe than perhaps some of the other patient bodies.”

John Turner, Head of Life & Health Underwriting, Continental Europe, Swiss Re

A special thank you goes out to our sponsors for helping make the event possible.