When John Zeus Tokatlidis was diagnosed with stage 4 follicular lymphoma in 2019, the news hit especially hard. Cancer had already taken close family members, and now he was facing it himself. “I didn’t know why I got cancer,” John Zeus says. “Why me?”
What followed was a long and uncertain experience. John Zeus started chemotherapy, but had to pause it during the COVID-19 pandemic as hospitals prioritized the most critical cases.
I learned that cancer could happen to anyone… and that’s the scary thing.
A tumour caused swelling in his left leg, and he was readmitted to the hospital in serious condition. More intensive treatment followed, including salvage chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, high-potency chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
By January 2023, John Zeus had finally completed his active treatment, and today, he continues to attend regular follow-up appointments as part of living with advanced cancer.
Finding support through connection
Throughout that time, John Zeus experienced fatigue, anxiety and depression. Looking for support, he joined the Canadian Cancer Society’s online community, CancerConnection.ca, where he connected with others who had gone through similar experiences.
I found a lot of support in talking to other people online. It was comforting because I felt like I was not the only one.
Talking with others who had lived through cancer offered reassurance that medical care alone could not. “Extreme darkness inspires extreme light,” John Zeus says. That sense of connection also influenced how he chose to give back and get involved.
2SLGBTQIA+ representation in cancer care
In 2022 and 2023, John Zeus participated in the Canadian Cancer Society’s Daffodil Month alongside his partner. Together, they raised funds for cancer research while contributing their perspective and visibility as members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
In 2023, he also joined the Canadian Cancer Society’s advanced cancer advisory team, sharing his perspective as someone living with advanced cancer.
He raised awareness during Pride Month about the stigma, access to care and challenges faced by people in underserved communities.
I’ve seen the stigma that people from marginalized communities experience when they receive a cancer diagnosis. Some people are afraid to go to the doctor because of homophobia, transphobia and prejudice. So, they’ll wait longer and longer, and by the time they get treated, the disease is at a later stage.
John Zeus believes equitable access to cancer care for everyone is essential. Everyone deserves to receive timely treatment, clear information and support without fear or judgment, regardless of who they are or who they love.
We need to make sure everyone has equal access to the care that they need and is able to navigate the system to find out what resources are available to them.
Pride, visibility and community
During Pride Month, John Zeus’s story highlights the importance of visibility, inclusion and equitable access to care. Representation in cancer care is all about making sure people feel safe, supported, and are able to access the care they need.
Through his experience and advocacy, John Zeus continues to draw attention to the realities faced by people in remote, marginalized and underserved communities, and to remind us of the importance of building a more inclusive cancer care system for everyone.
When 1 person goes through a cancer journey, their family and circle of friends suffer too. It affects a community.
Help create a future without cancer
With support from readers like you, we can continue to make a meaningful impact for people affected by cancer.
We are determined to increase survival, stop cancer before it starts, and improve lives. But we can’t do it without you.
If everyone reading this gave just $5, we could achieve our goal this month to fund the most promising research, compassionate support and transformative advocacy. Please give today because every contribution counts. Thank you.