From EMT to Patient: Fighting for Tomorrow
Reading Time: 3 minutesBy: Taylor Carlson, Blood Cancer In 2023, my life changed with a single word: cancer. I was in college, studying Human Biology, and working as an EMT. My days were
Tag: 20s
Thank You, Mom
Reading Time: 3 minutesBy: Claudia Osburn, Breast Cancer I’m staring at my mom’s casket, and my mind is drowning in questions. How do I move on? Is she really gone? What are we
Tumor Humor
Reading Time: < 1 minuteAnthony Greco shared their story at the 2025 Stupid Cancer NYC Storytelling Open Mic Event in NYC. Anthony Greco takes his comedic approach to his current cancer battle by performing
My BMT Journey
Reading Time: 6 minutesBy: Patrick Rossi, 29, Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma Before my 25th birthday, I was just your run-of-the-mill accountant with social anxiety. I was afraid of speaking up, going out of my comfort
Crowned Twice: A Beauty Queen’s Reign After Cancer
Reading Time: 5 minutesBy: Josie Carstensen, 24, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Two weeks before I was supposed to walk across the graduation stage and receive my college diploma, I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. A
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
Becoming the Patient: A Twist in My Journey to Help Others
Reading Time: 3 minutesBy: LaShae Rolle, 27, Multicentric Breast Cancer When I began my journey in public health during my Master of Public Health (MPH) program, my passion was clear: I wanted to
Realities of an AYA
Reading Time: 5 minutesIn the beginning of my 2023 Fall semester, I was a senior at Ramapo College of New Jersey, majoring in Social Work with a double minor in Criminal Justice and
Advocating for Myself
Reading Time: 2 minutesAs a stage 3A melanoma skin cancer survivor, I’ve learned valuable lessons about self-advocacy during my journey. Looking back, there are two critical points that underscore the importance of advocating
A Diagnosis That Changed My Life Forever
Reading Time: 2 minutesWhen I was 19 years old, I was diagnosed with Type 2/Stage 2 Hodgkin Lymphoma on June 3, 2016. My life and health was about to take a 360 turn.