Breaking Down Barriers: Marielle McLeod’s Commitment to Elevating Voices in Cancer Care

Advocate Spotlight: Marielle McLeod

Marielle McLeod’s experience with health care began long before she ever faced her own cancer diagnosis. Raised in the Dominican Republic, Marielle was deeply influenced by her grandmother, who worked in a local hospital pharmacy. “She would take me around and walk me through all the clinics and would show me all of the wonderful things that medicine can do,” Marielle recalls, emphasizing how these early experiences shaped her future. After immigrating to the United States at the age of 10 and eventually settling in Charleston, South Carolina, Marielle began working as a medical interpreter, where she was known for fiercely advocating for her patients.

Marielle’s life took an unexpected turn in 2017 when she was diagnosed with colon cancer at just 36 years old. What began as a series of concerning symptoms, dismissed by medical professionals, escalated into a fight for her life. “I just KNEW something was not right and NO ONE believed me,” Marielle reflects, recounting the moments leading up to her diagnosis. Marielle met with doctors repeatedly about her symptoms, returning home with a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Despite repeated dismissals, Marielle finally demanded a scope procedure after suddenly losing 20 pounds in addition to other worsening symptoms. Her persistence led to the discovery of a mass, and Marielle was ultimately diagnosed with colon cancer. The treatment that followed was grueling — 14 rounds of chemotherapy, severe side effects, and even a near-death experience due to an allergic reaction during treatment. Through all of this, Marielle realized the critical importance of self-advocacy in the health care system. “Slowly but surely, I started finding my voice,” she shares.

Marielle’s professional journey is as much about her passion for advocacy as it is about her deep personal connections to the field. After her diagnosis, she became a certified bilingual patient navigator, focused on helping Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients navigate their care and access necessary resources. Her work quickly expanded as she took on the role as Director of Programs & Advocacy at Cancer Hope Network, a national peer support program, and a role that Marielle describes as the highlight of her post-cancer career.

“When I learned that peer support was a ‘thing,’ a resource that I could have had access to during and after treatment, I was livid. Still am,” Marielle says, underscoring the lack of available resources for colon cancer patients at her treatment center. Her advocacy also extends to the Latino community, where she has focused on breaking down barriers to care, particularly in cancer screening and clinical trials. “There are so many barriers to care within our community, and I am fortunate to have been provided platforms that afford me the opportunity to elevate the voice of the Latino patient,” she adds, reflecting on the importance of representation in health care.

Marielle’s involvement with the NCCS has been a cornerstone of her advocacy work. After attending her first Cancer Policy & Advocacy Team (CPAT) symposium during the COVID-19 pandemic, she was immediately drawn to the mission and the sense of community it fostered. “The topics that were being offered at CPAT were topics that I was interested in,” Marielle explains, noting how the symposiums provided her with invaluable insights and connections with other advocates. This past summer, Marielle participated in Hill Day for the first time, an experience she describes as transformative. “I cannot wait to do it again and hopefully get to sit down with some of our Latino Senators and Members of Congress to support the Survivorship Act,” she says.

For Marielle, advocacy is not just about the work she does—it’s about ensuring that no one else has to experience the helplessness she felt during her own cancer journey. “I advocate because I don’t ever want anyone to experience the things that I did; feeling helpless, lost, and so scared,” Marielle shares, filled with determination. “It breaks my heart knowing that this is the reality for so many.”

Marielle’s experiences highlight the importance of self-advocacy, as well as advocacy for others. Her advice for those just getting started with advocacy – “There is no “cookie cutter” way to do advocacy or policy work. That’s the great thing about it. Some advocates are great at advocating for screening, caregiver rights, survivorship care, or clinical trials. We pull from our experiences to fight for those that are coming up behind us. We pull each other up. We fight and champion together for those that don’t feel they have a voice.” By turning her own experiences into a driving force for change, Marielle exemplifies the profound impact that one dedicated advocate can have on the lives of many.

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