Caregiving
There are over 60 million adult caregivers in the U.S. Whether you are a partner, parent, sibling, child, friend, or extended family member caring for an AYA, we see you and we value you!
AYA caregivers are as unique as the patients they care for, but they often put themselves last. Many struggle with physical, emotional, and mental health issues during their loved one’s cancer journey. Supporting your patient and supporting yourself is a lot and it’s ok to not be ok all the time.
Caregivers are very much part of the Stupid Cancer and AYA Cancer community. Just as it can be incredibly meaningful and healing for patients and survivors to talk with others who share their experiences, finding a community of fellow caregivers can be helpful to process the challenges of caregiving.
You deserve support, care, and community. You can find it here.
“As a caregiver, you want to be there every second of their treatment, but sometimes you have to stop and take care of yourself too.”
— Mónica, age 57, parent caregiver
Caregiving Resources
Caregiver Video Stories
Caregiver Stories From Our Community
The Community I Didn’t Know I Needed
Reading Time: < 1 minute Thomas, 38, Caregiver Thomas shared their story at the 2026 AYA Week Storytelling Open Mic Event in NYC. Thomas shares his perspective of having a younger brother with cancer and his initial struggle to process his diagnosis when he was a teenager. While he initially used humor and attempted to avoid the reality, Thomas shares the value in community when fostering a place of healing
Time Changes Everything
Reading Time: 3 minutesBy: Suesan Cota, 42 In December 2022, my husband (then boyfriend), Dil and I were told that after his intensive chemotherapy to treat his aggressive Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), the chances of us having children were highly unlikely. This devastating revelation was delivered in the basement office of the radiologist
A Daughter and Father Melanoma Story
Reading Time: 5 minutesBy: Leah Adams, 32, Melanoma I used to be the person who showed up to the Christmas party every year bronzed and glowing with a fresh tan. A tan was part of my regular beauty routine, and I felt incomplete without one. I never dreamed I’d walk into my longtime