Tamaki Katayama
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Who am I
I am a cancer survivor diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1998 at the age of 47. Although the disease relapsed, I have been cancer free after treatment, enjoying a healthy life as an English teacher at colleges.
I began my cancer advocate activities in 2004 and have been involved in the nation-wide lymphoma patient association “Group Nexus Japan” and all-cancer-targeted support group in Osaka “Osaka Cancer Anavi.” It is true that I belong to the first generation to have witnessed the dawn of cancer patient support activities in Japan and their evolution in real time. In patient support, I have worked to learn about the situation in foreign countries and Japan, the latter was far behind developed countries. I am keenly aware that it is time for a generational change, and have been still struggling to find a successor who can communicate in English to talk about the status quo in Japan’s cancer care.
Why
In 2005, there was a growing groundswell of public awareness of the voices of cancer patients, and in 2006, the Basic Act on Cancer Control was enacted. This made us Japanese cancer advocates realize the importance of patients speaking out collectively. I have been cooperating with various cancer patient associations in Japan and with lymphoma patient associations around the world. I have been touched by the opportunity from World Campus to be involved in global support activities related to various cancers, not only lymphoma, and I hope to take this opportunity to meet new activists. One of my last tasks is to connect with the younger generation of activists in Japan to the global activities.
Specialties
When I was young, I worked as an English and Spanish interpreter and guide in Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan. I love to talk with people from different countries. By exchanging ideas and opinions with my colleagues here at World Campus, I hope to learn many things and make use of them in our mutual activities.
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Involved projects
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