Let’s be Besties: Own a Cactus Cancer Society Bracelet!

Cactus Cancer Society is thrilled to be selected as a beneficiary for the Little Words Project’s Big Impact Initiative. Introducing: the resilient bracelet!

Little Words Project creates bracelets with words to inspire the person wearing them. On our bracelet design, the word is “resilient,” surrounded by colorful and bright beads, celebrating your resilience and that of our prickly and colorful community. Think of them as a grown-up friendship bracelet, one that will last beyond summer concert tours and trading. And the best part? This bracelet gives back! With every purchase, 25% of the net profits will be donated back to Cactus Cancer Society.

Here’s how YOU can give back and be a super-esteemed gift giver!

1. Stock up now for holiday gifts. Let’s get real: we are all really jealous of folks when they are done with their holiday shopping by November. Now, you can be one of them!

2. Grab one for you and one for the most resilient person you know. For an extra meaningful kick, write a note inside a card sharing what you admire about them. Cue award for Most Thoughtful Friend Of All Time.

3. Buy a few to have on hand for yourself and your cancer besties. For their next Re-Birthday or Cancerversary, you can give them an amazing gift that also gives back. Plus, you’ll be able to match us IRL at CancerCon 2025 in Washington, D.C.!* Making the rounds at all the young adult cancer events this summer? A little elephant told us they’re perfect for making a splash at Young Adult Cancer Camp!

4. Have kiddos in your life? Give them one, explaining what resilience is and how they can overcome their challenges. Plus, since the bracelets come in four sizes, you can get one to fit around a smaller wrist – and they come with a Limited Lifetime Warranty, meaning your bracelet is built to withstand all of the adventures a kid can have.

5. Grab one for your favorite teacher! Want to make a great impression on an educator you love when you get back to school? Gift them a bracelet as a reminder for them and the students they serve.

Want the summary? You buy a bracelet, Cactus Cancer Society receives a whopping 25% of the net profits, and you look like the benevolent, supreme gift-giver you’ve always wanted to be.

Don’t delay – get your bracelet ASAP!

* Mark your CancerCon calendar for our session, From Story to Strength: Creative Ways to Advocate! Friday, August 22, from 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM ET. Can’t wait to see you there!

Happy, Prickly Pride!

June is officially here, and that means that at Cactus Cancer Society, we are celebrating Pride Month in all of your (and our) favorite ways!

But first, we want to remind you that at Cactus Cancer Society, one of our core values is celebrating our inclusive community. Since we were established as a non-profit ten years ago, YOU have remained at the heart of what we do and why we do it. Our virtual community is comprised of young adults from all corners of the world, and we not only welcome you regardless of race, religion, gender, gender expression, ancestry, disability, marital status, and sexual orientation: we celebrate you. Our community is prickly, resilient, and fabulous!

What can you expect around here that’s different during Pride?

  • We have our annual Pride Art Workshop for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies. This year, we’ll be making vibrant, colorful decoupage animals… and program participants might find a few fun additions to their supply package. (Space is limited – sign up today!)
  • This month, the prompts in our drop-in Coffee and Oodles program will also be Pride-themed. Each week’s prompt will celebrate the revolutionary contributions of LGBTQIA+ folx and reflect on the themes of inclusivity, breaking boundaries, and authenticity.
  • You’ll also see some of our Pride designs in our Threadless shop: be sure to grab your limited edition merch now!

While official Pride celebrations may only last the month of June, know that we are here for you all year-round. To find out the latest on our programs and events, visit our website or sign-up for our email list here!

Happy Pride, Prickly fam! We love you.

Our Anthology: Perfect for Everyone On Your Shopping List!

We’ve got a holiday present coming that has been a decade in the making – and it will be one for everyone on your list!

In celebration of our tenth birthday next Spring, we are publishing a first-of-its-kind, long-awaited Cactus Cancer Society Anthology! The anthology will boast photos of beautiful visual art pieces, and powerfully written poems and short stories, all created by our young adult cancer community members. You will not want to miss the chance to own this limited-edition art collection and piece of Cactus Cancer Society history!

Here’s how you can reserve a copy for everyone on your list from this limited edition run:

  1. You can snag your anthology copy AND add a line of dedication to the anthology itself! For $45, you can contribute your own message. Take a line to wish your gift recipient a wonderful New Year! Thank your oncologist in writing! Thank your great uncle Pat for gifting you an art set when you were nine!
  2. You can also pre-order your copy of the anthology as-is. For $30, you can tell them their book is on the way once it’s hot off the presses.
  3. Pocket feeling a bit light from holiday shopping? You can grab your anthology for $40 after the pre-sale closes on February 15, 2025.

One of the greatest gifts you can give someone is a gift to look forward to, and that’s just what this anthology will be. Be the hero of this holiday season and the spring when the anthology is in their hands.

Ask a Cactus: Clinical Trials and Patient Experience

This is our final video in our Ask a Cactus Series on Clinical Trials! Hear from Laura, a Nurse Practioner at UCSF who answers all sorts of questions about clinical trials! In this video, she’ll talk about the healthcare team taking care of you during a clinical trial and where to ask questions, the ethics governing clinical trials, the rights you have as a participant, how much is might cost, and more.

Continue reading

Christina’s Corner: June 2024

June is quite possibly one of my favorite months. There’s Pride, a riotous celebration of love and being who you are. The sunlight lasts until 8:30 at night, and it makes time for so much more time outside – and the garden has surprises yet to be told. Then, the temperatures in my state aren’t yet stiflingly hot, and you can sit outside at night around a campfire and still need a light layer. I will entertain other seasons, but summer will always have my heart. 

Continue reading

Christina’s Corner: May 2024

I turned 35 this past weekend. I have been reflecting on a lot of things, but primarily what a privilege it is to be getting older. There are so many people I care about who are no longer here, and the aches and pains that come with another year feel trivial in comparison. I expected to be in a much different place in my life by the time I was 35, but I truly have not been happier than I feel right now. Not because my life is perfect, but because I know myself better than ever before, and I can confidently say I am very clear about what is worth worrying about and what is not.

Continue reading