Mervi Kaartoaho, 63, is an experiential writer who has found joy in life despite illness.

Mervi Kaartoaho from Iitti has undergone difficult cancer treatments. Based on these experiences, she wrote the book “Syövästä löytyi elämän tarkoitus” (2025). The work has been supported by the Cancer Foundation and the Kymenlaakso Cancer Society.

During her visit, Kaartoaho will talk about how a cancer diagnosis changed her outlook on life. She has seen her illness as an opportunity to look inward and transform her thoughts and mental images into something positive. She also discusses the issue of faecal incontinence, which remained after the treatments and profoundly changed her everyday life. The presentation also includes stories about the people who supported the creation of the book.

Books will be available for purchase at the event. The author’s fee will be donated to cancer research.