Ilka Christin Weiss

I am telling my story is to raise more public awareness about this rare form of cancer and to give insights into the feelings and thoughts of a cancer patient.

In 2004, Holger Weiss received the diagnosis of tongue cancer at the age of 41. After surgery and drug therapy, he was declared cured almost 10 years later.

During this time, Holger wrote a book about this difficult chapter in his life "The end of yesterday—survived tongue cancer." "Another reason I am telling my story is to raise more public awareness about this rare form of cancer and to give insights into the feelings and thoughts of a cancer patient. To make respectful interactions with each other possible", explains Holger Weiss.

He had hardly finished his battle against tongue cancer when another tragic chapter in his life story followed: This time the diagnosis was "lung cancer." But this was also a blessing in disguise for Holger Weiss. The carcinoma was encapsulated and readily treatable.

After these two blows of fate, Holger's perspective changed, and a different goal became the center of the next chapter in life— "to achieve the highest level of physical and mental health, which, according to the WHO, is one of the fundamental rights of every human being." Holger Weiss had always longed to be his true self—to live life as a woman.

It finally happened two years ago: "Since January of 2014, I can finally live as a woman and be true to myself," says Ilka Christin Weiss, avowed trans-woman and nurse.