Now there is scientific research showing that the young adult cancer population, aged 18-39, is the most isolated age-group who experiences cancer, and that this isolation is linked to all sorts of quality of life issues. It affects survival rates, reintegration into normal life, and a host of other things. There is data showing that surviving cancer is not enough, we must also be helped to thrive. There is data showing that survival is insufficient.
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A few months ago we launched our newest program here at Lacuna Loft, the Speaker Series! Our 6th Speaker Series Talk is now live! You can now watch Dr. Anne Katz talk about Everything you wanted to know about sex and relationships after cancer.
Dr. Katz is an expert in the field of sexual health and wellness after cancer and further specializes in young adults. Her talk is a must see. Plus, if you want to submit your own question about sex and relationships after young adult cancer, you can do so anonymously in our Awkward Auntie program.
In this open and honest conversation about sex and relationships, Dr. Anne Katz will share the advice she has given to many YAs during and after treatment for cancer. While YAs usually find their way with dating and new or altered relationships, they often need some support and guidance, or merely an open ear and heart to help them through a challenging time. In this event for Lacuna Loft, Dr Katz will talk about disclosing your cancer history to a new potential partner, how to deal with scars and missing body parts and anything else that YOU need to be answered.
Psst…want to submit a topic for a future Speaker Series? You can do so here!
Everything you wanted to know about sex and relationships after cancer – Speaker Series! Join our very own, Awkward Auntie, Dr. Anne Katz for a Speaker Series talk! Submit questions today!!!
In this open and honest conversation about sex and relationships, Dr. Anne Katz will share the advice she has given to many young adult (YA) cancer survivors during and after treatment for cancer. While YAs usually find their way with dating and new or altered relationships, they often need some support and guidance, or merely an open ear and heart to help them through a challenging time. In this event for Lacuna Loft, Dr. Katz will talk about disclosing your cancer history to a new potential partner, how to deal with scars and missing body parts, and anything else that YOU need to be answered.
While this talk will not be live, you have the opportunity to submit questions! Then, the recorded talk, featuring our very own Awkward Auntie, Dr. Anne Katz, will go live on Thursday, May 10!
Psst…want to submit a topic for a future Speaker Series? You can do so here!
Our 4th Speaker Series talk focused on Lacuna Loft’s origin story…what brought Lacuna Loft into the world and how we do what we do. And it got me thinking…we each have our own origin story! Mine is deeply interwoven with Lacuna Loft and I shared a piece of it in the speaker talk.
Are you a young adult cancer survivor or caregiver? Are you ready to tell your story to help someone else who is going through what you went through?
What is your origin story?
In the middle of the night, someone out there is wondering if they are the only one who has ever gone through young adult cancer. They are feeling alone, isolated, and wanting to feel connected to someone who understands. You can help someone, just like you, going through young adult cancer by sharing your story.
Your story matters.
We’d love to share your origin story. Fill out the form below and share your voice! We’ll contact you for your origin story!
A few months ago we launched our newest program here at Lacuna Loft, the Speaker Series! Our 5th Speaker Series Talk is now live! You can now watch Robyn talk about her Cancer in the Workplace Research.
Robyn was a delight to talk to. She says, “I became interested in research, especially when I heard that 33% of working age cancer survivors were exiting the workforce within 5 years of their diagnosis.” Learn more in her video!
After my diagnosis with breast cancer, I was startled to hear that although 90% of working aged cancer survivors return to work, 33% of working aged cancer exit the workforce within 5 years of their diagnosis. I spent time reflecting on my experience and my personal decision to leave my current employer and embark upon a new career and wanted to find out more. I found in my personal experience that there was an expectation that after my last day of radiation I would be back to 100% which was not the case. I also found that, after putting up the biggest fight of my life, the garbage in my workplace was illuminated and I wasn’t willing to be a part of it any longer.
As a part of my transition, I found myself going from HR Professional to HR Instructor and now have the opportunity to research why working aged cancer survivors are leaving the workforce and also capture those who are still in the workforce but in different positions. I am uncovering why people are leaving or changing jobs (often to their detriment) and what employers can do to keep employees impacted by cancer in the workforce. My ultimate goal is to help employers understand the challenges cancer patients face and that recovery is not instantaneous and make the experiences of others who are transitioning back to work a little brighter.
Psst…want to submit a topic for a future Speaker Series? You can do so here!
Our 4th Speaker Series talk is live! Check out Mallory’s talk on Lacuna Loft’s Origin Story in the video below!
It was really fun for me to tell Lacuna Loft’s origin story. Lacuna Loft’s beginning and my own cancer story are very intertwined (as you may have guessed since I founded the organization) and while I’ve shared snippets before in other ways on Lacuna Loft, it was nice to put it all together in a short(ish) video.
Just recently, someone sent me an email with the question, “How can I do what you do?” and it got me thinking. What is Lacuna Loft? What do we do? Where did we start? And, how did we get there? I’m asked questions all the time about starting a nonprofit, what being a woman CEO is like, where Lacuna Loft’s name comes from, and more. Well! We’re talking about all of that and more during this speaker series talk!
Psst…want to submit a topic for a future Speaker Series? You can do so here!
A few months ago we launched our newest program here at Lacuna Loft, the Speaker Series! Our 5th Speaker Series Talk will launch on Wednesday, December 20th! Starting on that day, you’ll be able to watch Robyn talk about her Cancer in the Workplace Research. While the talk won’t be live, we’d love for you to submit your questions! After reading a little abstract on the talk, fill out the short form at the bottom of this post with all of your questions! Submit as many as you want and Robyn will do her best to answer them at the end of her talk!
After my diagnosis with breast cancer, I was startled to hear that although 90% of working aged cancer survivors return to work, 33% of working aged cancer exit the workforce within 5 years of their diagnosis. I spent time reflecting on my experience and my personal decision to leave my current employer and embark upon a new career and wanted to find out more. I found in my personal experience that there was an expectation that after my last day of radiation I would be back to 100% which was not the case. I also found that, after putting up the biggest fight of my life, the garbage in my workplace was illuminated and I wasn’t willing to be a part of it any longer.
As a part of my transition, I found myself going from HR Professional to HR Instructor and now have the opportunity to research why working aged cancer survivors are leaving the workforce and also capture those who are still in the workforce but in different positions. I am uncovering why people are leaving or changing jobs (often to their detriment) and what employers can do to keep employees impacted by cancer in the workforce. My ultimate goal is to help employers understand the challenges cancer patients face and that recovery is not instantaneous and make the experiences of others who are transitioning back to work a little brighter.
Psst…want to submit a topic for a future Speaker Series? You can do so here!
A few months ago we launched our newest program here at Lacuna Loft, the Speaker Series! Our fourth Speaker Series Talk will launch on Tuesday, November 14th! Starting on that day, you’ll be able to watch Mallory talk about Lacuna Loft’s Origin Story. While the talk won’t be live, we’d love for you to submit your questions! After reading a little abstract on the talk, fill out the short form at the bottom of this post with all of your questions! Submit as many as you want and Mallory will do her best to answer them at the end of her talk!
Just recently, someone sent me an email with the question, “How can I do what you do?” and it got me thinking. What is Lacuna Loft? What do we do? Where did we start? And, how did we get there? I’m asked questions all the time about starting a nonprofit, what being a woman CEO is like, where Lacuna Loft’s name comes from, and more. Well! We’re talking about all of that and more during this upcoming speaker series talk!
Psst…want to submit a topic for a future Speaker Series? You can do so here!
Our 3rd Speaker Series talk is live! Check out Jenn’s talk on The Sum of Survival in the video below!
Chatting with Jenn was a real treat. A few minutes after we stopped recording the talk she said, “I survived up until now and if that changes tomorrow, I’ll deal.” Such an insightful remark from someone who has been through so much.
What does it mean to survive? To me it’s living life to the fullest while you’re here on this planet. Some people feel like the term survivor doesn’t apply once their cancer came back – I disagree. Every day you get up – no matter how hard – you survive. It’s another day to make memories, say I love you or sleep in. Being a survivor carries a HUGE burden. Once you’ve gone through cancer people think you should be farting rainbows. Wrong! We have good days and bad just like anyone else … and snarled traffic, a bad hair day, and rude people still set us off. I do feel uncomfortable saying the term survivor sometimes because of all these misconceptions, I’m no superhero, I’m no braver than anyone else in my situation – the simple truth of the matter is that I’ve survived all that life has thrown at me so far … and that’s good enough.
Psst…want to submit a topic for a future Speaker Series? You can do so here!
A few months ago we launched our newest program here at Lacuna Loft, the Speaker Series! Our third Speaker Series Talk will launch on Wednesday, October 4th! Starting on that day, you’ll be able to watch Jenn talk about The Sum of Survival. While the talk won’t be live, we’d love for you to submit your questions! After reading a little abstract on the talk, fill out the short form at the bottom of this post with all of your questions! Submit as many as you want and Jenn will do her best to answer them at the end of her talk!
What does it mean to survive? To me it’s living life to the fullest while you’re here on this planet. Some people feel like the term survivor doesn’t apply once their cancer came back – I disagree. Every day you get up – no matter how hard – you survive. It’s another day to make memories, say I love you or sleep in. Being a survivor carries a HUGE burden. Once you’ve gone through cancer people think you should be farting rainbows. Wrong! We have good days and bad just like anyone else … and snarled traffic, a bad hair day, and rude people still set us off. I do feel uncomfortable saying the term survivor sometimes because of all these misconceptions, I’m no superhero, I’m no braver than anyone else in my situation – the simple truth of the matter is that I’ve survived all that life has thrown at me so far … and that’s good enough.
Psst…want to submit a topic for a future Speaker Series? You can do so here!
