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
Caring for the Caregiver: Research on Caregivers of AYA Cancer Patients
Reading Time: 2 minutesXimena Giesemann, 31, Melenoma I officially became a part of the AYA community in August of 2016 when I received my own cancer diagnosis: melanoma. I was 22 years old at the time and days away from embarking on my first semester as a graduate student in Positive Developmental Psychology
Cancer Diagnosis: Deja’ Vu
Reading Time: < 1 minuteIt was a day I’ll never forget, marking the one-year anniversary of my diagnosis with Polycythemia Vera, a day that seemed cursed with cruel symmetry. Pulmonary hypertension. The words hit me like a freight train, a second blow I never saw coming. Walking into the doctor’s office, I braced myself
When A Cancer Survivor Becomes the Caregiver
Reading Time: 4 minutesI was 27 when I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. My mom was sitting next to me in the room as the doctor read those results that would alter the path of my life forever. The moment the words “cancer” was uttered by the surgeon, my mom took charge asking