The Brave Behinds

The no-shame support squad for women affected by #AnalCancer

ABOUT

SUPPORT

HOW

WHO

Anal cancer can be lonely, frightening and incredibly hard to talk about. And not just because of the treatment, the side effects, the scans, the waiting, the pain, the fatigue, the bowel changes, the sexual health worries, the body confidence wobbles and the “what now?” of life after treatment.

But because the word itself can make people freeze. It can become and feel too awkward. Too intimate. Too much information.

So we know all too well, that women stay quiet. They make jokes (actually laughter can help). They minimise. They carry it privately. They try to get back to “normal” when their body, confidence, relationships and sense of self may have been completely shaken.

The Brave Behinds exists to change that.

We are creating a support space for women affected by #AnalCancer. A place where there is:

NO SHAME,

NO AWKWARD SILENCES,

and NO NEED TO HIDE

This is support built from lived experience, honesty and the belief that women deserve better EVERYTHING, before, during and beyond their journey with #AnalCancer.

The Brave Behinds is for women who have been affected by anal cancer and ONLY anal cancer.

You may be:

  • Newly diagnosed

  • Going through treatment

  • Recovering from chemoradiation

  • Living with side effects

  • Adapting to living life with a STOMA

  • Trying to rebuild confidence after treatment

  • Navigating scans, follow-ups and fear of recurrence

  • Feeling isolated because no one around you quite understands

  • Supporting someone you love through anal cancer

  • Looking for a space where you can talk honestly without shame

You do not need to have the “right” words. You do not need to be brave all the time. You do not need to turn up polished, positive or sorted.

You just need to know that you are welcome.

Our first step is a monthly online support space for women affected by #AnalCancer, where each month we will have a focussed session, including guest speakers.

These sessions will be informal and lived-experience-led. They are not clinical appointments, therapy or medical advice, unless the guest speaker is qualified. They are a chance to connect with other women who understand why this cancer can feel so difficult to talk about and for us to hold space so that we can actually talk about it and feel supported.

Through The Brave Behinds, we hope to offer:

  • Monthly online support sessions

  • Honest conversations about diagnosis, life during and after treatment

  • A safe space to talk about the things people often avoid

  • Signposting to useful support and information

  • Lived-experience stories from women who understand

  • STOMA related support and advice

  • Awareness-raising around HPV, cancer recovery and the realities of anal cancer

  • A growing community where women feel less alone

This is JUST the beginning. We will LISTEN, and we will evolve THE BRAVE BEHINDS from what the community needs - filling in the VOIDs!

The Brave Behinds has been established by Ali and Shell, two women with lived experience of anal cancer.

We’re loud and proud anal cancer survivors because we felt the associated shame and stigma of others - that our cancer, wasn’t one that we should openly talk about, because it made other people feel uncomfortable. And we thought HELL-NO.

Anal Cancer shouldn’t have any SHAME, STIGMA or be something that women have to suffer in SILENCE!
This SQUAD is for all the women affected by ANAL CANCER - you don’t have to be loud and proud, because we’ve got each other! And this is your SAFE-SPACE.

Our Team

Monet Goode

Co-Founder

With a vision for building something meaningful, our founder brings a blend of big-picture thinking and hands-on experience. They set the tone for everything we do.

Co-Founder

Emmet Marsh

Focused, approachable, and driven by results, our sales manager is all about building strong relationships. They help connect people to the right solutions—with clarity and care.