Ever had a question about relationships or sex that you just can’t ask your oncology care provider? Ever felt too shy to ask a nurse or doctor a question, but really needed the answer? Now you can ask those questions and get answers from Dr. Anne Katz, the Awkward Auntie!
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At Cactus Cancer Society, we believe every young adult facing cancer deserves to hear one simple, life-changing word: YES.
Yes—you belong here.
Yes—there are others who understand.
Yes—you are not alone.
But the truth is, our programs fill quickly, sometimes within minutes. That means young adults facing cancer are often left on the waitlist, hoping for connection and healing but instead hearing the word “no.”
We hate saying “no,” and with help from our community, we don’t have to.
Members of The Greenhouse make it possible to welcome more young adults into our programs and ensure no one is left behind.
Just $21 per month creates space for one more young adult to find connection, healing, and hope. Each monthly gift turns a “no” into a YES, opening the door to life-changing support.
When Alex joined our Art Workshop, she was less than a year out of treatment. It was the first time she had ever experienced support in a group with others facing cancer.
“If I had something like this when I was going through active treatment, it would have really helped,” she shared. “Talking with people of a similar age group who had any sort of clue what ‘I’m so tired I can barely walk to the bathroom’ really meant – and how taking a nap wouldn’t help – made such a difference.”
The workshop gave Alex space to “channel some creative energy,” and she says, “I would absolutely suggest it to someone else now that I know about Cactus Cancer Society!”
Alex’s story is just one example of what your YES can make possible.
Every monthly donor who joins The Greenhouse helps us turn “no” into YES for young adults who are waiting right now.
Together, we can make sure no young adult hears “no” when what they need most is connection, healing, and hope.
Ever had a question about relationships or sex that you just can’t ask your oncology care provider? Ever felt too shy to ask a nurse or doctor a question, but really needed the answer? Now you can ask those questions and get answers from Dr. Anne Katz, the Awkward Auntie!
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Grab a cup of coffee and sit down for 10 questions with the newest team member of Cactus Cancer Society, Lauren Morales LCSW. Think of it like a coffee chat where you get to peek into some of her favorites, her quirks, and the best advice she’s received. Here are ten questions, ten honest answers — equal parts lighthearted and thoughtful.
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Cactus Cancer Society has been chosen as a beneficiary for Little Words Project ’s Big Impact Initiative, and the result is pure magic. Our exclusive “resilient” bracelet is more than just an accessory; it’s a reminder of the strength that defines the young adult cancer community.
And the best part? Through September 30th, every “resilient” bracelet you buy sends 25% of proceeds directly back to Cactus Cancer Society, fueling free, life-changing programs for young adults facing cancer.
That means:
Your bracelet helps provide creative coping workshops for young adult cancer survivors. Your bracelet helps keep our community connected through virtual programs. Your bracelet helps young adults know they’re not alone in their cancer experience.
This isn’t just a bracelet. It’s a statement of solidarity, a reminder of strength, and a way to ensure young adults have the support they deserve.
Whether you’re stocking up for the holidays, gifting your cancer bestie, or treating yourself to a daily reminder of resilience, this bracelet makes an impact far beyond your wrist.
But don’t wait—the “resilient” bracelet is only available through September 30th, and once they’re gone, they’re gone!
Thank you for choosing to make an impact with your purchase. Together, we’re building a stronger, more resilient community.
💚 The Cactus Cancer Society Team
Each one of us has an origin story. Every sidekick plays a vital role. And every great mission is achieved, not by going it alone, but by a team. That’s why this year’s YA Cancer Gabfest is all about Joining Forces: Survivors, Sidekicks, & Supporters – Navigating Young Adult Cancer Together.
Beginning on December 8th, the YA cancer community is uniting! We’re bringing together young adult cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and the professionals who support them for five epic days of connection, conversation, and real-world survivorship wisdom.
Whether you’re facing a brand-new diagnosis, finding your way after treatment, showing up day after day for someone you love, or working on the frontlines of YA cancer care, this is your call to assemble! You can expect interactive sessions, crash courses, and powerful stories from people who truly get it, all designed to help you navigate the ups and downs of cancer together. Think of it as your ultimate cancer care team-up.
YA Cancer Gabfest is open to young adult cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers along with the researchers, healthcare providers, and nonprofit professionals who support them. If young adult cancer touches your life in any way, this event is for you!
Registration is now open, so mark your calendar and register today!
Is it just me, or does the world feel heavy lately?
The news scrolls by in an endless stream of uncertainty–conflict, loss, change. In moments of uncertainty, it’s easy to feel unmoored, like we’re all holding our breath, waiting for the next thing to shift beneath our feet.
But in the midst of uncertainty, here’s one thing I’ve come to believe deeply and personally: art always prevails.
Art doesn’t just survive during hardship–it rises up to meet it. It helps us give shape to the things we don’t yet have words for. It allows us to express our pain, to explore our joy, to reconnect with who we are. Picasso painted Guernica in the wake of the devastation and brutality of war. Maya Angelou wrote Still I Rise from the depths of oppression. Time and time again, creativity becomes our compass when we feel lost and uncertain.
My craft of choice is embroidery. I find the repetitive action of making little stitches to be meditative and the end result to be satisfying. But with every project I’ve ever worked on, there’s an inevitable moment in the middle when I absolutely HATE it. I think, “Oh no! This looks horrible! What have I done?”
It’s at this point that I have a choice to make – Do I quit? Do I pull out all the stitches and start over? Do I throw the whole thing away?
Or…
Do I keep going anyway? Do I decide to embrace the imperfection and press on in hope that what I’m doing will work itself out in the end?
I always do, and I always love the end result.
As a cancer survivor, I know firsthand what it’s like to sit in uncertainty – to feel overwhelmed, afraid, and disconnected from my own story. I also know how powerful it is to create something in the midst of that. The creative process itself is steeped in uncertainty. Mistakes become part of the masterpiece. We hit roadblocks and invent new ways forward. We often don’t know what we’re creating until it’s done–and somehow, that’s where the magic lies.
Engaging in creativity is willingly choosing to embrace uncertainty. When we talk about resilience, we often imagine it as pushing through the pain, standing tall, staying strong. But sometimes, resilience looks like something much quieter.
Sometimes it looks like picking up a paintbrush when everything feels uncertain.
Or writing a poem when you don’t know what to say.
Or showing up to a virtual workshop just to know you’re not alone.
Each time I pick up my needle and thread and decide to simply keep going despite the uncertainty of what the end result will be, I am learning to become more resilient. Engaging in the creative process teaches us to keep moving forward even in the midst of uncertainty – whether it’s uncertainty about what a mess of fabric and threads will eventually become, or whether it’s uncertainty about something much bigger, like the results of a PET scan, whether or not my treatment will work, if my fertility has been impacted, or if my cancer might return.
That’s what we see in our creative programs at Cactus Cancer Society. Young adults facing cancer step into the unknown every single day in our workshops. And when they make art, they’re not just expressing themselves. They’re learning to befriend uncertainty, to create in spite of fear, to keep going, one messy brush stroke at a time.
Sure, learning a new form of art is fun!
Sure, it’s exciting to get a box of art supplies in the mail!
Sure, completing a project provides a sense of accomplishment!
But it’s about so much more than that. Our programs aren’t just “craft nights.” They’re spaces of transformation, connection, and healing.
In the midst of something as earth-shattering as a cancer diagnosis, the value of resilience cannot be understated.
Our fiscal year is coming to a close on June 30th and we are aiming to raise $5,000 to support our creative programming. This amount will allow us to provide art supply boxes to an additional 100 young adult cancer patients and survivors in the next fiscal year.
So let me ask you a simple question – will you join us?
Will you help us continue this important work of strengthening resilience in each young adult facing cancer who joins our creative programs?
Did you know that Cactus Cancer Society offers over 20 programs helping reduce feelings of anxiety, depression, psychological distress, and loneliness, and serving thousands of young adults facing cancer every year? And now we’re looking for someone to join our programs team!
Interested in joining our team and positively impacting young adults facing cancer? Have some program planning experience? We’re hiring a Senior Program Coordinator and we’d love for you to apply!
We’re looking for someone with a passion for program planning who wants to play a central role in bringing life-changing creative coping programs to the young adult cancer community. We are a fully remote team and are excited to bring someone new on board!
Is it you? Click below to learn more and apply today!
At Cactus Cancer Society, we know that every young adult facing cancer has a story that matters. That’s why we’re excited to share an opportunity to make a direct impact on research through Count Me In’s Osteosarcoma Project.
Osteosarcoma is a rare and aggressive bone cancer that primarily affects adolescents and young adults (AYAs). Despite medical advancements, progress in osteosarcoma research has been slow, partly due to the limited availability of patient data. Count Me In is working to change that by empowering patients and families to contribute their experiences, medical information, and samples to drive scientific discoveries.
By participating in the Osteosarcoma Project, individuals can help researchers gain a deeper understanding of osteosarcoma, uncover potential new treatments, and work toward better outcomes for the AYA community. Every contribution, whether it’s sharing medical history, providing a saliva sample, or answering short surveys, helps build a resource that fuels critical discoveries.
How to Get Involved:
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with osteosarcoma, joining the OS Project is simple and completely online:
At Cactus Cancer Society, we believe in the power of community and the strength of young adults impacted by cancer. By joining the OS Project, you’re not just sharing your story, you’re helping shape the future of osteosarcoma research.
Learn more about Count Me In and sign up today at OSProject.org.
Love that unmistakable new book smell? You’re in luck!
To celebrate ten years of community and creativity, Cactus Cancer Society is proud to announce our very first–and long-awaited–Anthology!
This one-of-a-kind book is a vibrant collection of poems, short stories, and visual arts, all created by members of our young adult cancer community. Every page of the anthology tells a story of resilience, connection, and hope.
It’s hard to imagine any single object could encapsulate the vibrancy and brilliance of our community members, let alone an entire decade of Cactus Cancer Society’s biggest milestones. Yet, this anthology accomplishes just that.
Cancer is an incredibly heavy burden, but when shared among community members, our reflections can offer a sense of lightness, comfort, and ease. Through creative expression, we transform the most isolating days of our lives into something beautiful and poetic. When you hold this book in your hands, you’ll understand exactly what we mean.
This is more than just a book. It’s a limited-edition art collection, a celebration of community, and a piece of Cactus Cancer Society history. Grab your copy today!
