Desire to have breast cancer in order to feel at ease in my own skin.

As a teenager, I struggled with my body and how the world perceived it. I felt trapped in a narrow, gendered box that didn't fit who I truly was. I even went as far as wishing for breast cancer, an illness that my aunt had battled for years, hoping it would be the only solution to my discomfort. I longed for a doctor to recognize that my body was not how it was supposed to be, to validate my feelings and agree that my breasts needed to be removed.

I was still coming to terms with my gender identity, and the pressure to conform to society's expectations for girls only added to my discomfort. I felt like I was expected to talk about boys, wear makeup, and get excited about buying my first bra. But these were all things that I didn't want for myself.

To cope, I resorted to binding my chest with bandages and tape, causing myself physical pain in the hope that it would somehow lead to my breasts being removed. I even joined an LGBTQ+ community on WhatsApp, desperately seeking support and understanding from others who were going through similar struggles.

So when I heard the news that Health Secretary Wes Streeting had extended the ban on puberty blockers for under-18s with gender dysphoria, I was overcome with anger, sadness, and fear. Puberty blockers were the one thing that could have helped me as a teenager, and now they were being taken away.

Puberty blockers, as the name suggests, are medications that temporarily pause puberty in children. They block the hormones responsible for physical changes such as periods, breast growth, and hair growth. If I had known about them when I was growing up, I would have done anything to get my hands on them. They would have saved me from the physical and mental pain that I still carry with me today.

But Streeting, using advice from the Commission on Human Medicines, deemed them an "unacceptable safety risk" and banned their use for transgender youth. This decision only adds to the distress and struggles that young trans and non-binary people face every day. It's heartbreaking to think that they may resort to harming themselves because they can't access the medication that could help them.

I didn't have access to puberty blockers when I needed them, and now as an adult, I see how harmful and unhelpful my thoughts and actions were. I share my story to help others feel less alone, and I work with organizations to make their environments more inclusive for trans individuals.

But my efforts are not enough. I am constantly inspired by the work of activist groups, like Trans Kids Deserve Better, who are fighting for the rights and dignity of trans youth. They have been leaving messages for Streeting outside his office, each one representing a trans person who may lose their life due to lack of healthcare.

It's time for trans and non-binary individuals to be treated with respect and given access to lifesaving healthcare. Puberty blockers are not some "evil potion," they are just medication. It's unfathomable that Streeting would deny young people the chance to feel comfortable in their own bodies.

We all deserve the right to access medication that can help us feel more at ease with ourselves and our bodies. Streeting's decision is neglectful and harmful, and it's time for him to be held accountable for the damage he is causing. Trans and non-binary children should not have to suffer in silence, hoping for a solution that may never come. It's time for change.

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