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
Losing a Loved One
Reading Time: < 1 minuteClaudia Alvarez-Plaud shared their story at the 2025 Stupid Cancer NYC Storytelling Open Mic Event in NYC. Claudia shares her experience as a caretaker. She speaks on how watching her mom battle cancer was challenging; it was also empowering and motivating, and ultimately brought her and her mother closer together.
Special Bonds: Celebrating Mother’s Day
Reading Time: 6 minutesStupid Cancer had the chance to chat with David, 28, & Mónica, 57, a son and mother duo who navigated David’s Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) diagnosis together. They spoke with us about how cancer changed their lives, relationships, and mother-son bond. David is an active member of the Advisory Committee
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