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Why Young Adult Cancer?

Imagine feeling lost, afraid, and alone during one of the most important and stressful points in your life because of cancer. Each year, 80,000 young adults (ages 18-39) are diagnosed with cancer, and the future they had once planned for is dramatically altered. Currently, few comprehensive resources are available to help young adult cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers meet their unique psychological, social, and emotional needs. At a time when their peers are advancing their education, careers, and families, young adult cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers face time away from school and work to facilitate treatment and recovery. They often feel an intense sense of loss of their once busy lifestyles, experience social isolation from their peers, face challenges to education and career advancements, have concerns about relationships and fertility, and are overwhelmed by the daunting financial burdens they face. At Cactus Cancer Society (formerly Lacuna Loft) we provide those in their 20s and 30s dealing with cancer with the support and tools they need to adapt their once busy young adult lifestyle to fit the complex challenges that arrive after a diagnosis, and into survivorship. By bringing together wellness and psychosocial support programs and resources that are specifically geared towards this young adult population, Cactus Cancer Society improves wellbeing and quality of life.