Written by young adult cancer patient Cody, this blog reflects on what AYA Cancer Awareness Week actually means beyond the headline. From navigating life as the youngest person in the room to finding connection, grief, and unexpected moments of joy, it’s an honest look at what this experience really holds.
Continue reading
As any cancer community member knows, receiving a diagnosis can change your perspective on nearly everything. If you had lived a previously healthy life, you find out just how much harder life can be, even when treatment is going well. You discover the complicated nature of healthcare, specifically in the United States.
We get to hear today from one of our community members, Bethany, about what it was like to advocate for change at the national level by participating in Hill Day. Read on for more about her adventure!
Continue reading
We are so excited to introduce a community member, Carrie Tam, who has joined our Cactus Cancer Society Team for the summer. She is wonderful, and we know you’ll welcome and love her, too! Read on to discover more about Carrie!
Continue reading
My name: Annie
Home: Billenica, MA
Horoscope: Sagittarius
Favorite book: The Artist Way by Julia Cameron
Hero: I’m inspired by authentic people and those who shine their lights bright.
Superpower: Staying positive and putting one foot in front of the other.
Hardest challenge: Going through treatment and figuring out the “new normal”.
Guilty pleasure: Chocolate and House Hunters
Favorite Lacuna Loft Program: Unspoken Ink Creative Writing Program
Proudest moment: Nurturing my children and watching them grow.
The best piece of advice I’ve received: Take things one step at a time.
How I stay mentally healthy: Journaling, Yoga, Walking/ Jogging
Personal Mantra: Never give up, one day at a time, I love mantras!
My favorite part of being part of Lacuna Loft: Knowing that I’m not alone. Being part of a supportive and encouraging community.
My name: Leslie Palliere
Home: Currently I live in Aiken, SC- HOME is Payson, Utah
Horoscope: Capricorn
Favorite book: GENRE: Historical Fiction, Oldest favorite: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Newest Favorite: The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
Hero: My grandma, my mom, my aunts, and my brothers.
Superpower: Making meaningful connections with children
Hardest challenge: Loss of fertility, depression, divorce, and post-cancer treatment chronic conditions that are a constant reminder of personal losses.
Guilty pleasure: Binging on favorite TV shows, wine, and chocolate-covered salted caramel.
Favorite Lacuna Loft Program: Unspoken Ink, Lost and Found Journal Group
Proudest moment: Graduating with a Master’s Degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences
The best piece of advice I’ve received: Be patient with your body, and allow yourself to feel how you feel.
How I stay mentally healthy: Daily meditation, daily and weekly check-ins with support groups, friends, and family, allowing myself time to be still, rest, and reflect, creative writing and journaling.
Personal Mantra: These have been changing often lately: current favorite is: “I take pride in myself daily.”
My favorite part of being part of Lacuna Loft: The instant feeling of safety and connection I have within Lacuna Loft groups, and the amazing friendships that have been made. The consistency of the programs has helped my confidence grow and writing has helped me work through so many issues and all allowed me to rediscover myself and feel more like ME again.
My name: Mary Clare Bietila
Home: Chicago, IL
Horoscope: Sagittarius
Favorite book: Birds of America by Lorrie Moore, Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid, Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
Hero: Amy Sherman-Palladino
Superpower: Parallel parking
Hardest challenge: Living with unpredictable and neverending chronic illness
Guilty pleasure: Phone puzzle games
Favorite Lacuna Loft Program: Learning to bullet journal! Unspoken Ink writing workshops and any workshop I get to lead!
Proudest moment: Finding the courage to work on my marriage after cancer and parenthood.
The best piece of advice I’ve received: Anxiety is a liar.
How I stay mentally healthy: Any and all things that make me snort with laughter. My daughter, Twila, and my husband, David bring a healthy dose of silly.
Personal Mantra: Love is letting go of fear … There is no muse.
My favorite part of being part of Lacuna Loft: Finding a caring community that gets it.
Home: Connecticut
Horoscope: Aquarius
Favorite book: Portrait of Jennie by Robert Nathan and A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Hero: My daughters
Superpower: Being an empath
Hardest challenge: organizing
Guilty pleasure: Reality TV shows
Favorite Lacuna Loft Program: Creative Art Workshops
Proudest moment: My waterbirth
The best piece of advice I’ve received: “Just keep swimming!” 🙂
How I stay mentally healthy: Dance therapy, community, and maybe a bit of denial.
Personal Mantra: Dig and dug in return.” – Langston Hughes
My favorite part of being part of Lacuna Loft: Connecting with people who get my cancer experience and getting in touch with my creative side.
Home: New York City, NY
Horoscope: Capricorn
Favorite book: A hard one because I’ve read 70+ books alone in the pandemic
Hero: My mom, my grandmothers, and RBG
Superpower: Energy
Hardest challenge: getting out of bed every day
Guilty pleasure: None- I own all the stuff I like and I don’t care who doesn’t
Favorite Lacuna Loft Program: Creative Art Workshops
Proudest moment: completing the NYC Marathon
The best piece of advice I’ve received: “Compare leads to dispare.”
How I stay mentally healthy: laughing at almost anything
Personal Mantra: Why not?
My favorite part of being part of Lacuna Loft: knowing I’m not alone in this crazy cancer experience
Home: Yorba Linda, CA
Horoscope: Aquarius
Favorite book: Our Band Could Be Your Life by Michael Azerrad
Hero: Bruce Springsteen
Superpower: Empathy
Hardest challenge: Handling post-treatment survivorship and anxiety
Guilty pleasure: Gummi Sharks (most candy, really)
Favorite Lacuna Loft Program: Unspoken Ink
Proudest moment: Getting onstage after treatment and playing a song about it and getting hugs and high fives from friends after.
The best piece of advice I’ve received: “Everyone moves at their own speed.”
How I stay mentally healthy: Staying connected with friends, writing, therapy
Personal Mantra: “It’s chaos. Be kind.” Michelle McNamara
My favorite part of being part of Lacuna Loft: The community of amazing people who are encouraging and rooting for each other.
Home: New Jersey
Horoscope: Taurus
Favorite book: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Hero: Julie Andrews
Superpower: Listening!
Hardest challenge: Working while in treatment.
Guilty pleasure: Cereal- any time of day!
Favorite Lacuna Loft Program: Creative Art Workshops 🙂
Proudest moment: Whenever I open a new musical.
The best piece of advice I’ve received: “Everything you want is on the other side of fear.”
How I stay mentally healthy: Baking! It’s tasty therapy!
Personal Mantra: You don’t have to be brave enough for all of it, just be brave enough for this.
My favorite part of being part of Lacuna Loft: The community that spans locations, ages, and diagnoses.
