Our Thanatology Project with Fuerza MEMO in Mexico

Written by Izzy Passey

Cancer is a complicated topic which can feel overwhelming at any stage. For anyone, including those close to you, it can bring up feelings of negativity and uncertainty about the future. It might make you ask: 

Why me? 

How do I face the reality of cancer? 

What will the future hold? 

Or how should I navigate my grief?  

The scientific discipline of thanatology can help us come to terms with cancer. Taken from the Greek thanatos meaning death, thanatology originally focused on gaining a greater understanding of death and dying. Nowadays, however, it can be used to help cancer patients and their families navigate feelings or concerns at any stage of life.  

Thanatologists run both individual and group sessions which can be beneficial in a range of contexts. This includes the initial diagnosis stage, during ongoing treatment, or alongside end-of-life care. The sessions allow you to share your thoughts and build new perspectives. It can also be a way for families to come to terms with the passing of a loved one. Importantly, thanatologists recognise that everyone reacts differently. In Hispanic culture, for instance, death is often viewed as a part of life. When a loved one passes, it is often said they move on to a different stage but remain firmly part of the family. 

This July, World Child Cancer began their partnership with the Mexican charity Fuerza MEMO, based in Monterrey, Nuevo León, which provides professional thanatology support to families of children with cancer.  

In Mexico, when you are diagnosed with cancer, you tend to be referred to a social worker. Many hospitals, however, do not have the capacity to support families and continue sessions in the long term, leaving people feeling isolated and abandoned. Most families of children with cancer in Monterrey already experience financial challenges, a struggle that is made worse by out-of-pocket expenses related to cancer treatment. As a result, it is often not financially possible to afford psychological support from elsewhere.  

World Child Cancer’s project with Fuerza MEMO offers face-to-face sessions and group occupational therapy sessions free of charge for families of children with cancer. The sessions are held weekly. Some families are also offered transportation support if needed. Hospital Universitario Dr. José Eleuterio González in Monterrey is partnering with World Child Cancer and Fuerza MEMO on this project to help refer families to the project and to provide spaces for the thanatology sessions to take place. Many of the families here do not have social insurance, meaning they cannot access the standard public health system, emphasising the importance of free psychological support. 

As a local charity, Fuerza MEMO is well-suited to engage with the community and building meaningful connections. We believe, and hope, this project will allow families to discuss their concerns and come to terms with their child’s diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. 

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