Carly Flumer was diagnosed with stage I papillary thyroid cancer at the age of 27 while earning her master’s degree. While being diagnosed with cancer at a young age was terrifying, she found strength and support in sharing her cancer journey on social media through both the written word and visual imagery. As a result of her diagnosis, she looks to advocate for other cancer patients, especially adolescents and young adults, through education, research, and health literacy.

Carly holds a master's degree in health communication from Boston University and a bachelor's degree in health administration and policy with a concentration in health systems management from George Mason University. You can find her on Instagram and Twitter (@carlyflumer), on LinkedIn (including all of her written work), and at the Patient Empowerment Network where she holds the role of Thyroid Cancer Network Manager.