If there’s one thing I’ve learned in five years with the Health eMatters Conference, it’s that community doesn’t just happen – it’s built, intentionally, by people who show up again and again. I’ve had the privilege of being part of this event since its very beginning, serving as both co-emcee and as one of the original steering committee members. Each year, I’m reminded why it matters so deeply.

The 2025 Health eMatters weekend was another powerful chapter in that story. From the moment the doors opened, you could feel the mix of anticipation and familiarity. The kind that only exists when survivors, caregivers and advocates come together not just to share information, but to share themselves. The sessions were insightful, the panels brave, and the energy? Electric. In one attendee’s terms, “It’s like coming back to cancer summer camp”, where every year we come back to see our friends and do the work.

For me, emceeing this event has never been about being on stage; it’s about helping others step into the spotlight. Giving them room to tell their stories, ask their questions, and find connection in the faces around them. That’s the magic of community: it reminds us that survivorship doesn’t end with remission. It evolves. It deepens.

Finding your tribe in survivorship isn’t just about swapping medical war stories … although feeling understood among your peers “who get it” does feel incredible. It’s about laughing again, creating again, and realizing that life after cancer can have purpose. Whatever that looks like for you. Maybe it’s advocacy. Maybe it’s art. Maybe it’s mentoring another patient through the first hard steps. There’s no single definition of purpose, only the courage to look for it.

One of my favourite moments this year was hosting and performing in “Picc Lines & Punchlines”, a comedy show featuring an incredible lineup of fellow cancer survivor comics. Each performer brought their own story, their own scars, and their own punchlines. Together, we proved that laughter truly is part of healing. There was pride in the room, yes, but also release. Comedy became connection.

That’s what Health eMatters community is all about. Whether it’s through a microphone, a conference session, or a shared laugh over dinner, the weekend reminds us that we’re not alone. The space we create together has a ripple effect far beyond the hotel conference room.

If you’re still searching for “your tribe”, keep looking. They’re out there – at conferences, in support groups, in late-night messages from people who “get it”. When you find them, you’ll know: healing gets lighter when it’s shared.

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Written by: Peter Laneas
Advocacy & Outreach Communications Manager
Cancer Fatigue Services