New Opportunities to Meet Others Facing Metastatic Cancer

woman sitting on bed

Our program calendar is chock-full of great things to fill the rest of this crazy year and we’ve got three metastatic only programs left in 2020! In chronological order below, you can get all the details on when and how to sign up!  Spoiler alert:  We have a focus group, a one-night creative writing workshop, and an entire track of Gabfest specifically geared towards young adults facing metastatic cancer.

— Lacuna Loft is a proud partner of the Coleman Supportive Oncology Collaborative for Adolescents and Young Adults (CSOC AYA), a collaborative of clinicians and patient advocates who treat and support AYAs with cancer. This collaborative recognizes that information and support resources for those living with metastatic or advanced diseases are lacking. This year, together, we set a goal to create a resource for young adults like you. We need you to tell us what should be in it. Be heard now and in the future by sharing your experience, thoughts & ideas as a contributor to this effort.  Please join us for an online discussion with members of the collaborative and other young adults like you on Thursday, November 19, at 5 pm PT / 7 pm CT / 8 pm ET via Zoom. You can go here to register in advance for this meeting and family members, caregivers, and friends are welcome to join, as well as, young adults facing any type of metastatic cancer aged 15-39.

— Then, back by popular demand, Lacuna Loft is facilitating a one-night creative writing workshop for those young adults facing metastatic breast cancer on November 23rd! (This is the only opportunity of the three that is specific to a certain diagnosis).  We’ll be writing with prompts in a group setting, with only metastatic breast cancer participants, supported by Seattle Genetics.  No expert writing experience needed here. Just grab your pen(cil), some paper, and our moderator will help guide you through thoughtful prompts that are set in a judgment-free, no-pressure environment.

— Also make sure to register for YA Cancer Gabfest, where you can attend a metastatic specific track (a whole day of the agenda is just for you!) and hear from others who are in your shoes.  Starting with an interactive chat with Dr. Mark Lewis, a panel of ya metastatic survivors, and a chill hangout to get to know one another afterward. It’s all happening the week of December 7th, with the metastatic day on December 10th!

Each program will offer the ability to meet others facing metastatic cancer, so sign up today for one or all of these opportunities!  Everything is online so you can be home, cozy and comfy, and connect with others who understand what it’s like to face metastatic cancer as a young adult.

Questions about any of these free programs? Contact aerial@lacunaloft.org!

UFO Edition, YAC Hangout!

craft supplies on table

Come join a UFO-edition Young Adult Cancer (YAC) Hangout next week!  Join together online with other young adult cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers for an informal meet up via video chat.

What’s UFO you say?  Un-Finished Object!  Have a project you’ve been working on that’s been hanging out unfinished?  Tackle it while hanging out with a group of young adults facing cancer!  Want to just come and hang out?  That’s fine too!

Monday, November 9th from 5:30-7 pm PT / 7:30-9 pm CT / 8:30-10 pm ET!

Interested in joining? Sign up here!  (Just fill out the form and make sure to choose YAC Hangout under the ‘Programs you’re interested in’ section!) If you’ve already filled out this form and selected YAC Hangouts, we’ll automatically send you a zoom link!

The Mind, Body, And Soul Series Is Back!

sunrise over water

Join the young adult cancer communities of Dear Jack Foundation, Elephants and Tea, and Lacuna Loft during our month-long, Mind, Body, and Soul wellness series in October for an opportunity to connect, grow, and stretch!  We will be offering weekly, 90-minute sessions to help enhance the mind, body, and spirit and provide a chance to break down some of the isolation we’ve all been experiencing over the last few weeks.  Whether you are a seasoned yogi, meditator, doodle genius, or a newbie to the world of mind and body care, come and try something new in a safe, fun, and encouraging environment – your own home!

These classes will be free and hosted through Zoom and all experience levels are welcome!  You can come to one or come to all!  Sign up on the form below!

Schedule
All classes will start at 9 am PT/10 am MT/noon ET

Friday, October 9th – Soul, Zentangle with Lacuna Loft
Friday, October 16th – Body, Yoga with Dear Jack Foundation
Friday, October 23rd – Mind, Meditation with Elephants and Tea
Friday, October 30th – Halloween Mind, Body, and Soul Series Hangout

Want to learn more about each session in the Mind, Body, and Soul Series?

10.9 – Soul – Zentangle Workshop with Lacuna Loft

Join us for a short Zentangle doodle! Zentangles are the art of drawing simple shapes into repetitive, meditative patterns while creating a larger drawing, without having to worry about precision. All you’ll need is paper, a pencil, a thin black sharpie, a regular black sharpie, and a ruler! We’ll walk you through the basics, so you can then create your own, one of a kind, uniquely you Zentangle!

10.16 – Body – Yoga with Dear Jack Foundation

Let’s join together as an online commUNITY with a Slow Flow Yoga class. Yoga means union of the physical body through breath. That begins the journey inward where we can access the spirit, soul, and center of wisdom and bliss. We will take careful notice of the physical body and then connect intentionally with the breath that sustains and gives us a sense of ease. After settling in, the body will flow freely on the mat through a series of poses that will provide flexibility, strength, and connection to our true nature. We will end class with a short meditation to further develop mindfulness. This class is for everyone – all skill levels are welcome!

10.23 – Mind – Meditation with Elephants and Tea

This Meditation Session will introduce the participant to breathe and body sensing in order to tune-in and relax the mind and body. The session will be approximately 30 – 40 minutes. Participants will learn about how meditation can help reduce stress. At the end of the session, participants will be given the opportunity to ask questions of the teacher.

Angie is a Level II iRest Yoga Nidra Meditation Teacher.

10.30 – Halloween Hangout

Join Dear Jack Foundation, Elephants and Tea, and Lacuna Loft for the wrap up to our Mind, Body, Soul Digital Series in a fun and informal Happy Hour Hangout! We’ll talk about your overall month, any skills you learned during the month during the sessions, favorite moments, and opportunities for us to improve your experience. Hangout with other people who understand what it’s like to go through young adult cancer and costumes will be encouraged!

Loch, A Love Letter To Water

woman staring at lake in mist

Lacuna Loft’s Journaling program sends a journal prompt directly to your inbox.  Participants are encouraged to write for a specific amount of time (usually between 7-12 minutes) and are always invited to submit their writing for publication here.  This piece was written by Tori T. in response to the prompt: Write a love letter to water.

I’ve been waiting to meet you wildness;

I sought you,

On long and stormy nights.

I clung to your rocky shores,

Waiting for your pull to drag me under.

But instead your landscape drove me,

To a land of contradictions.

One of rugged mountains,

gouged out canyons,

covered in the softest grass and freshest air.

A swirl of mist fog,

And icy dredges.

Darkest waters,

Greenest pastures,

Pillows of heather,

Giant granite boulders standing tall.

Amongst these rivals,

I felt claimed by all.

by Tori T.

This was a written submission from Lacuna Loft’s weekly Journal Prompt Program.  Sign up to get on the list, receive weekly journal prompts in your inbox, and submit your own piece of writing to us by emailing aerial@lacunaloft.org!

Come And Gab With Us

Presented by Elephants and Tea and Lacuna Loft, YA Cancer Gabfest’s mission is to Empower the AYA Cancer Community to Embrace Their Voice and Story.

Throughout the week of December 7th, we invite you to share, explore, and learn as we interact together.  Gabfest will meet each day for 3 hours in the evening, starting at 7:30 pm ET.  Each day will consist of a crash course, an interactive panel/discussion/talk, and a hangout (aka, Gabfest After Hours).  You are welcome to attend a single session of the event or as many sessions and days as you would like.  When you sign up below, we’ll send you everything you’ll need to attend the session(s) you are interested in!

We’ll offer opportunities to connect with other young adults facing cancer in crash courses, interactive panel discussions, hangouts, and more.

Each day will have a new theme(s). The Themes at Gabfest will focus on*:
Monday: Opening Day, Who is the Expert in the Room?
Tuesday: Self-Advocacy + Storytelling
Wednesday: Mental Health + Wellness
Thursday: Metastatic, Caregiving, and Sexual Health + Relationships (separate tracks)
Friday: YA Cancer and Your Body

*Please note themes are subject to change.

Who: the YA Cancer Community (young adult cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers; healthcare professionals, nonprofit professionals, and patient advocates working with YAs facing cancer)

When: Monday, December 7th – Friday, December 11th via video chat

 

Come spill tea with us no matter where you are! Sign up below, now!

Thank you to our partners + sponsors!

Diamond Sponsor

Bronze Sponsor

abridge logo smaller

Check Out Gabfest!

Presented by Elephants and Tea and Lacuna Loft, YA Cancer Gabfest’s mission is to Empower the AYA Cancer Community to Embrace Their Voice and Story.

Throughout the week of December 7th, we invite you to share, explore, and learn as we interact together.  You are the expert in your own care, so along with experts in the fields, Gabfest will combine and elevate the individual voices of the young adult cancer community.

We’ll offer opportunities to connect with other young adults facing cancer in crash courses, interactive panel discussions, hangouts, and more.

Each day will have a new theme(s). The Themes at Gabfest will focus on*:
Monday: Opening Day, Who is the Expert in the Room?
Tuesday: Self-Advocacy + Storytelling
Wednesday: Mental Health + Wellness
Thursday: Metastatic, Caregiving, and Sexual Health + Relationships (separate tracks)
Friday: YA Cancer and Your Body

*Please note themes are subject to change.

Who: the YA Cancer Community (young adult cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers; healthcare professionals, nonprofit professionals, and patient advocates working with YAs facing cancer)

When: Monday, December 7th – Friday, December 11th via video chat

How does it work? Gabfest will meet each day for 3 hours in the evening (exact time is TBD).  Each day will consist of a crash course, an interactive panel/discussion/talk, and a hangout (aka, Gabfest After Hours).  You are welcome to attend a single session of the event or as many sessions and days as you would like.  When you sign up below, we’ll send you everything you’ll need to attend the session(s) you are interested in!

 

Come spill tea with us no matter where you are! Sign up below, now!

Thank you to our partners + sponsors!

Diamond Sponsor

Mother’s Love

crib mobile

I will never know a mother’s love. Let me be clear, because this is not about MY mother. For as long as I can remember, I knew that I did not want children. I did not have a single shred of desire to be a mother. I am sure that being a mother is great, in the same way that eating a raw onion and garlic salad would be just lovely for some people. I am not one of those people.

Motherhood never interested me in the slightest. For me, pregnancy seems unpleasant. I was accidently there at the moment my nephew was born, and I swear my ovaries jumped out of my belly button and ran away. I mean sure, not-so-baby nephew is adorable as are all of my nephews and nieces. But the single best part for me is that being an aunt means I can spoil them rotten, pack them full of Oreos and ice cream, and send them home. I love those kids, but they are not born of me.

Through this cancer journey, I’ve become aware of certain things that make me very lucky in unusual ways. I was already in a position where I had been permanently sterilized. I did not have any fertility to preserve or lose. When the social worker brought it up, I was almost dismissive, which probably seemed cold and insensitive, but I had just found out I had incurable brain cancer, and frankly, my uterus has always been more trouble than it was worth. Not only was I lucky that this was a non-issue for me, but as I became more involved in the cancer community, especially the young adult groups, my eyes were opened to a major emotional blind spot that I had simply never noticed. When I noticed this blind spot, I had a moment of despair, not for the children I would never have, but for the cancer survivors, my close friends, who I knew desperately wanted children and had the option ripped away from them, often literally cut out of their future. Inside of them lives the evil of cancer and the everflowing fountain of love for children who will only ever exist as tragic ghosts hiding in the deepest corners of regret.

I see my sisters and brother, and the neverending love they have for those children. They sacrifice, they give everything to make their children’s lives better every day, all night. I honestly don’t know that I could do that. Raising a family is hard, and knowing just how hard my own mother worked is humbling. Am I just too selfish to be a mother? Maybe some people just aren’t meant to be mothers. In the meantime, my cancer journey has revealed a special secret to me. Some people have that overflowing abundance of mother’s love. I have somehow been blessed to have acquired additional mothers over the past year. My friends’ mothers look out for me. They love and support me like I am one of their own. COVID quarantine keeps visits rare, but they reach out in a way that makes me feel the abundance of mother’s love. I will never know mother’s love as a mother, and although that makes me wonder what legacy I will leave behind, I know that there is so much love flowing from mothers that I never have to feel alone. To all of my mothers, near and far, I love you as only a daughter can.

– Melissa Mateo Blank

How would you respond to the writing prompt, the image of a crib mobile?

—

This writing comes directly from one of our participants in our Unspoken Ink Creative Writing Group for young adult cancer survivors.  The participants met for 2 hours each week, for 8 weeks during our Spring 2020 session.  This writing has not been edited since its original creation, showing the wonderfully raw and powerful prose coming from the courageous writing group participants each week.  If you’d like to sign up for future sessions, please email info@lacunaloft.org or sign up on our interest form.

If Life Is A Bingo Game

bingo head

If life is a bingo game, I wish the bingo caller would stop calling out the angry ball.

I’m angry at the way the world is working.

I’m angry at myself for a million reasons.

I’m angry that I get so angry at myself.

I’m angry that I’ve wasted time on that anger.

I’m angry for expressing my anger, when it seems like there should and could have been another avenue for me to drive down.

I would love to wake up, splash water on my face, make myself a pot of coffee and feel delighted. When’s the last time you heard someone say “I’m delighted”? That would be delightful; an earnest contentment that sounds effortless but seems like so much hard work to achieve on most days. I would love to meet someone and be in awe of them and as they walk away, think out loud to myself “they are just a delight”.

If life is a bingo game and it feels like the bingo caller is calling out “miserable” all the time, maybe it is time to quit that job.

I would love to win a bingo game just once. The momentary rush of excitement. Quickly exclaiming BINGO!!! before someone beats me to it. Holy shit, that would just be a delight.

– Steve Heaviside

How would you respond to the writing prompt, the bingo emotions?

—

This writing comes directly from one of our participants in our Unspoken Ink Creative Writing Group for young adult cancer survivors.  The participants met for 2 hours each week, for 8 weeks during our Spring 2020 session.  This writing has not been edited since its original creation, showing the wonderfully raw and powerful prose coming from the courageous writing group participants each week.  If you’d like to sign up for future sessions, please email info@lacunaloft.org or sign up on our interest form.

When The Dark Holds Onto You…

sunset darkness

Twisting and turning, angrily screaming no, you can’t have me

The blackness begins to creep up my body, crushing each rational thought and feeling

I don’t want to feel so broken, unsure, and so alone

Teetering on the edge of insanity

My head slowly starts spinning like Regan from the Exorcist

Wondering when did that feeling of emptiness and abandonment come into play

Is the darkness truly my only solace and support

– Megan-Claire Chase

 

Megan-Claire Chase (Warrior Megsie) is a 4-year breast cancer survivor in Atlanta, GA. She started her blog to highlight the struggles of being a young adult cancer patient/survivor and to advocate for better treatments and resources. She’s been a guest blogger for multiple cancer support sites in the US and UK including Lacuna Loft, LoveHope.co, Humor Beats Cancer. Her blog is syndicated on Cancer Health Magazine’s website. She has been interviewed on the vlog Brain Cancer Diaries on YouTube and on WATC TV Channel 57 to talk about breast cancer awareness for young adult cancer survivors. One of her biggest achievements was co-presenting an abstract on AYA perspectives on fertility preservation conversations with healthcare providers at the American Psychosocial Oncology Society conference in Atlanta, GA. The abstract was published in the Journal of Adolescent Health. Her cat Nathan (Natey) Edgar is her pride and joy. Check out more of her writing on her blog: Life On The Cancer Train.