Sanem Cerit was born in Adana, Turkey, in 1998. She earned a BSc in Psychology from Leiden University, followed by a master’s in Persuasive Communication from the University of Amsterdam, specializing in health communication and promotion.
Sanem has a particular interest in arts-based communication. She met Dr. Laura Lorenz and was introduced to Photovoice in 2015 at the Global Youth Summit on the Future of Medicine at Brandeis University.
In 2019–2020, while interning with PhotovoiceWorldwide, Sanem facilitated a photovoice project with a young man living with cancer. This collaboration inspired her to share his story with the world, resulting in her first book, A Pinch of Awareness. PhotovoiceWorldwide recently sat down with Sanem to talk about her vision and hopes for the book.
PVWW: Who do you want to reach with Ali’s story?
SC: My primary goal for A Pinch of Awareness is to reach and give hope to patients, families, and clinicians during treatment for – and recovery from – childhood cancer. Through Ali’s story and the photovoice method used, I aspire to facilitate communication and promote healing for all involved. In particular, I hope to reach young adults who have faced or are facing similar health challenges and uncertainties.
PVWW: What do you want people to take away from reading Ali’s story?
SC: I want readers to feel a sense of hope and connection. Whether they are patients, families, or clinicians, I hope it reminds them that they are not alone. As Ali states, “People can feel better after sharing their stories.” I also hope the book inspires others to express their feelings and thoughts more freely, finding the courage to share their own challenges and successes, as Ali has.
I also want readers to recognize the power of listening without making assumptions, and to see individuals for who they truly are – beyond their diagnoses. When we manage to do that, we realize we are not so different from each other after all. Ali’s story beautifully reflects this, revealing his daily and social lives, feelings and identities – after diagnosis, during treatment, and beyond.
PVWW: Why is this book important?
SC: Cancer is frequently viewed through dictionary definitions and simplified narratives shaped by awareness campaigns, charitable organizations, myths, and fears. Too often, these medical definitions and stereotypes influence our understanding of a person with a life-changing diagnosis. This book shares a more complete view of patients who are often unheard and placed in boxes based on their diagnoses. Through Ali’s story and the photovoice method, I aim to challenge these assumptions, offering a glimpse into his life, his feelings, and the mundane moments that connect us all.
As psychologist Hande Nacar Baş mentions, expressing one’s thoughts and feelings is challenging for anyone, but even more so for young people. Ali’s voice, his photos, and his captions encourage readers to reflect and interpret, such that everyone adds something of him or herself to the photovoice experience, making it a very personal one. I believe A Pinch of Awareness is a first step in breaking down the stigma and prejudice that exist within society regarding cancer patients.
My school has always been a source of motivation for me; however, it had a
negative meaning in my life while my friends perceived it as a positive. After
my diagnosis, I spent most of my time counting the days until I could go back
to school. At the time, it wasn’t established yet that I would be home-schooled.
After a while, the principal forced me to continue my education from home,
and made us sign some papers about it. My social life, my friendships, were
basically taken away from me. I lost the only thing that was helping me distance
myself from what was going on at home. I was so sad and angry about losing
my social life that even words won’t suffice to explain.
Terrace:
I usually come out here to listen to music, ever since I got out of the hospital. I used to come out here to take a stroll down memory lane and think of the past years, to get rid of all the bad energy. I would see the neighborhood, the silence would sweeten me up. I would always listen to the song “I am alone,” because I was feeling that way.
The View
These mountains comprised the first scenery that I got to see in the mornings,
the view I sat across from for hours when I wasn’t allowed to leave my house.
Looking at this view makes me comfortable; but, at the same time, it reminds
me of the past – hard hospital times. It gives a sense of hollowness. Isn’t it
strange that the same view can evoke both motivation and hopelessness? Two
or three years ago, I dreamed of climbing a mountain with my best friend. I
would visualize us climbing this mountain together, as I sat looking at this view.
point, my computer became the only
tool that helped distract me from the
illness, fevers, and my own exasperation.
In a sense, it brought life to my life that
was ‘lifeless-like’.
About the author:
After completing high school in Istanbul at American Robert College, Sanem moved to the Netherlands to attend Leiden University, where she earned a BSc in psychology, with a minor in digital humanities. In 2021, Sanem worked on her master’s thesis, “Educating young adults about eating disorders with the use of entertainment-education,” in completion of a master’s in Persuasive Communication at the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands, with a focus on health education and promotion.
Sanem regularly volunteers with nonprofit organizations and takes part in community involvement projects and internships related to health, psychology, and sociology. Arts-based communication is a particular interest of hers.
Link to Amazon site where you can purchase the book: https://www.amazon.com/Pinch-Awareness-patients-through-photovoice/dp/B0CWL5V2RV