The culture of cancer: Breaking down barriers to research

This poster explores how culture, stigma, and survivorstorytelling shape access to cancer research and prevention, with a focus onanal cancer in Latine and LGBTQ+ communities. Drawing on my work with CheekyCharity and my lived experience as an anal cancer survivor, it highlights howbilingual outreach, creative media, and survivor-led initiatives can dismantlesilence and make cancer education more approachable. The poster will illustratethe interconnected circle formed by culture, religion, and social normsalongside research, studies, and outcomes. By showing how these forcesinteract, the project emphasizes the need for survivor-informed, culturallyresonant approaches that bridge communities and science, breaking down barriersto prevention and care.