Our Story
The Need
Every year, 89,500 adolescents and young adults (AYAs) in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer, with over two million AYA survivors nationwide. For them, it’s not just a medical crisis- it’s a life crisis. Most face it alone, without ever meeting someone their age who understands what they’re going through or accessing information specific to their needs.
Stupid Cancer is the leader in building the adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer community, ending isolation, and making cancer suck less so that everyone affected by AYA cancer can Get Busy Living.
Through 100+ annual programs, we support thousands of AYA patients, survivors, and caregivers nationwide by:
- Building Community through CancerCon®, nationwide meetups, open mics, and an active digital presence.
- Addressing Life-Stage Needs with targeted discussions and 24/7 access to curated, on-demand resources.
- Driving Systemic Change via equity initiatives, provider partnerships, and projects that reduce barriers to care.
Our History
In the nineties, when Stupid Cancer founder Matthew Zachary was diagnosed with a pediatric brain cancer at 21 years old, cancer resources for young adults were few and far between, and ‘surviving’ meant living beyond five years. Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer programs did not exist, and often patients were treated as kids or older adults, failing to acknowledge the unique life stage of AYAs.
In 2004, Matthew founded Steps for Living (which became I’m Too Young for This! Cancer Foundation in 2007 and then Stupid Cancer in 2012), a progressive social enterprise that linked his worlds of music, cancer advocacy, consumer health marketing, and technology to ensure that people like him, his wife, brother, and parents would have the opportunity to benefit from community and support resources they only wished they had in 1995.
In the years since its founding, through its innovative, award-winning, and evidence-based programs and services, Stupid Cancer has become the leader in the adolescent and young adult cancer space. The landscape for AYA cancer has changed dramatically over the last decade, in large part due to the work of Stupid Cancer.
Make a Donation
As a 501(C)(3) nonprofit, Stupid Cancer relies on your generosity to build the adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer community, end isolation, and make cancer suck less.
We can't do this work without your help!
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