We are thrilled to announce the winner of the 2026 Mesothelioma.com Scholarship, Madison Hager!
Madison is a cancer survivor who turned her experience into a mission to change health care for the better. She aims to become a medical social worker supporting young cancer patients. In this role, Madison wants to help transform oncology support so other patients don't feel as alone as she did. She recently started working toward her master’s degree in social work at Nebraska Wesleyan University. We are honored to support her continuing journey!
Navigating COVID and Cancer
Doctors diagnosed Madison with stage 2 breast cancer when she was just 29. While her care team helped her physically, she also dealt with the heavy reality of isolation. Like many others, she entered treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic without her family by her side, all while navigating the emotional weight of being young and living with a cancer diagnosis.
In her application materials, Madison wrote, “My own experience with cancer was profoundly lonely, and it made it clear to me that the system is not designed for young people.” She goes on to explain that a nurse navigator suggested she try a support group.
Madison agreed, but when she attended the meeting, she noticed that the others in the support group were about 30 years older than her. While they expressed worry over seeing their grandkids grow up, Madison wondered whether she could become a mother at all. That’s when she realized her hospital was not set up to help with the psychological burden of receiving a cancer diagnosis at such a young age.
Crafting a Vision of the Future
Madison remembers telling her oncologist when she was close to the end of treatment that she just wanted her life back. The oncologist placed a hand on her shoulder and gently reminded her, “Your old life is over. You have to create a new one.”
Those words set Madison on her new path.
Madison started a vision board when she went home. On it, she put pictures of everything that she wanted for her future: health, happiness, motherhood and a meaningful career.
After she and her husband welcomed a baby boy to the family three years later, it became clear to Madison that she needed to pursue a more fulfilling 9-to-5. While she worked in marketing before her diagnosis, she now wanted something more impactful, something her son could one day be proud of. She enrolled at Nebraska Wesleyan to make that piece of her vision board a reality.
“Last fall, I enrolled in a Master of Social Work program with the hope of working in oncology,” Madison wrote. Though she felt deeply alone during treatment, that also drove her to want to help other young people through their cancer journeys. She plans to apply her lived experience as a cancer survivor to improve the resources and care options available to young patients.
“I want to be part of a system that not only treats the disease but fully supports the person by recognizing and responding to the unique needs of young patients,” she wrote in her application.
A Future Defined by Purpose
The Mesothelioma.com Scholarship team receives hundreds of applications each year, and selecting a winner is never easy. This year, we selected Madison for the $4,000 award, because we were drawn to her story, volunteer work and dedication to helping cancer patients.
In Madison’s letter of recommendation, her professor, Dr. Ann Matthews, noted, “Madison’s decision to pursue social work is clearly rooted in purpose, perhaps a calling. She is driven to support other young cancer patients and to advocate for those navigating health challenges. In every respect, from academics to building relationships, Madison embodies the spirit of the Mesothelioma.com Scholarship.”
We completely agree. We believe Madison’s commitment to making a transformational change in health care will benefit others with similar stories. We look forward to following her pursuits. From the entire team here, we wish you the best of luck, Madison!
I never want my clients to feel as alone as I did. I want them to know, through both my presence and my lived experience, that they are stronger and more resilient than they may feel, and that even in their darkest moments, they will not have to face it alone.
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Tara Strand specializes in writing content about mesothelioma and asbestos. She focuses on topics like mesothelioma awareness, research, treatment, asbestos trust funds and other advocacy efforts.
