We want to hear about cancer experiences from men and Black, indigenous, persons of color voices like yours to ensure our research represents everybody!
Continue readingLooking For Men And BIPOC Voices
You May Have Noticed!
You may have noticed that our website looks a little different! We thought we’d answer some quick FAQs to get us all started here at our new home!
Continue readingMeet Lauren, Our New COO
Please help us welcome Lauren, our new Chief Operations Officer at Cactus Cancer Society (formerly Lacuna Loft)!
Continue readingWe Are Now Cactus Cancer Society!
Lacuna Loft has officially changed its name and look to Cactus Cancer Society! We know this transformation has been a few months in the making but we’re really excited to finally unveil our new look and identity.
Continue readingIt’s July already?!
We hope you’re having a great summer!
We can’t believe it’s July already! This summer is flying by!
We wanted to let you know that Cactus Cancer Society (formerly Lacuna Loft) will be pushing pause on programs through the month of July. We’ve got some pretty amazing things in the works and we’re very excited about getting back to you this August with more wonderful programs.
What do we plan on doing for the rest of the month? Trust us, it’s not a vacation ;). It’ll be business as usual over here as we strategically plan, grant write, program plan, evaluate, dream, network, and talk young adult cancer survivorship to anyone who will listen! We’ll also be moving into our new website for Cactus Cancer Society (pardon our dust in the interim, and more on that here), as well as going crazy at the chalkboard with Elephants and Tea planning out Gabfest 2021!
Don’t’ worry! While we’re busy behind the scenes, you’ll still be able to:
- Read through our blog! It dates back all the way through March of 2014, so there’s lots to read!
- Take part in a meditation series with Mamma G at Elephants and Tea on July 11th and July 18th!
- Sign up for our new Guy’s Discussion program! It premieres in August and we are SO excited about it.
- The next Survivorship Series has been announced! Register today!
- Check out our Grief to Gratitude workshop with Lov Yoga and Tara Picklo that is starting when we get back!
- Are you a healthcare provider? Get all the details on our FREE continuing education course with LCSW Jean Rowe, Nourish, Nurture, and Renew.
- And much, much more on our Upcoming Programs page!
In the meantime, we’d love to hear from you! Feel free to email info@lacunaloft.org and tell us anything! From what new yummy recipe you’ve tried out, who your favorite Tik-Tok-er is, to what Pinterest fails (or wins!) you’ve been up to creating this summer! It could even be what you want to see more of here at Cactus Cancer Society, we want to hear it all!
Have a wonderful July and we’ll see you in August! 🙂
Improve The Health And Healthcare of AYA Cancer Survivors
Lacuna Loft’s very own Mallory Casperson is an investigator in a new study with researchers at Kaiser Permanente to improve the health and healthcare of adolescent and young adults (AYAs) who may have had cancer. We need to hear about cancer experiences like yours to help shape our research. Topics will include your experiences with medical care, your life experience, and your thoughts on research participation.
We would like to recruit 30 AYAs to participate in a sixty-minute telephone interview. We will talk about cancer experiences and what researchers should know.
People who complete an interview will receive a $40 Target, Amazon, or Starbucks gift card for their participation.
If you are interested in participating, please click on the following link to answer a few questions to see if you are eligible. If you are eligible and selected, a member of the study team will follow up with you to schedule your interview.
Click here if you’re interested: https://bit.ly/2SU9aU8
With sincere thanks,
Marlaine Figueroa Gray, PhD – Kaiser Permanente Washington
Mallory Casperson – Lacuna Loft
Research Study On Extracurriculars Among Childhood Cancer Survivors
Lacuna Loft really enjoys sharing the news on research studies that benefit young adult cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers. Check out this announcement for one from Celina at Cedars-Sinai!
I am part of a research team at the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. I am writing to invite you to participate in our research study about promoting extracurricular activities among early childhood cancer survivors. We hope to learn more about childhood cancer survivors’ experiences participating in extracurricular activities.
If you are a parent of an early childhood cancer survivor (ages 10-18), please consider enrolling in our study. You and your child will participate in one interview, 30 to 60 minutes in length. (Please note that parents and children 12 or older have the option to participate in a second interview). As a thank you for your participation, you will receive an Amazon gift card worth $30 in your currency.
If you’d like to participate or have any questions about the study, please email: Celina Shirazipour, Ph.D. @ celina.shirazipour@cshs.org
Triage Cancer Free Virtual Conferences
Feeling overwhelmed by all of the practical and financial issues that come with a cancer diagnosis? Our partner Triage Cancer is hosting 2 conferences in 2021, for individuals diagnosed with cancer, caregivers, and oncology healthcare professionals. Check out more information at http://TriageCancer.org/Conferences.
Drag Bingo Brunch Is Just Around The Corner
Lacuna Loft recently celebrated its 6 year anniversary as a nonprofit! To celebrate, we’re hosting a Disney-themed, Drag Bingo Brunch featuring Miss Redd! We’ve been hinting at a big reveal happening at the event, and here it is…we’re going to unveil our rebrand and new name at the event! We’ve spent the last 9 months going through an exhaustive process and we are very excited about our new name and how it resonates with the work we do and the community we serve. Want to be the first to know? Grab your ticket today!
What do we mean by Drag Bingo Brunch? A lovely drag queen, Miss Redd, will be hosting a bingo brunch with us! We’ll have prizes, dance numbers, a costume contest, and attendees will be the very first to hear a HUGE announcement from us!
Is there a theme? Yep! Disney!
Do I need to dress in drag? Nope! Can you? Sure! We’ll have a costume contest though so dressing up according to our Disney theme is extremely encouraged. 😉
Who will be there? Everyone! Join with Lacuna Loft staff, board members, supporters, and community members!
How much does it cost? This is a pay-as-you-can event! While the suggested, minimum donation is $6 we totally understand that people have different financial capacities so you can join the drag bingo brunch, whether you pay $0, $6, or more!
Join us on Saturday, May 8th at 10 am PT / 12 pm CT / 1 pm ET for a 90-minute Drag Bingo Brunch.
Annual National Conference On Work And Cancer
Lacuna Loft is pleased to partner with Cancer and Careers on the 11th annual National Conference on Work & Cancer, being held virtually on Friday, June 25, 2021!
This FREE virtual event will explore the complexities working people face as they try to balance their cancer treatment and recovery with employment. Topics will include job search, legal issues, working during treatment, managing stress and more. CEUs/PDCs will be offered for nurses, social workers and HR professionals.
For more details or to register, please visit www.cancerandcareers.org/conference.