A Stress Management And Resilience Program

stacked rocks

The Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center is conducting a research study to see what kinds of stress management training and relaxation practices would be most useful for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.

  • What does it involve?  You’ll be asked to take part in a 90-minute focus group discussion with other adolescent and young adult cancer survivors to explore your preferences for adapting their existing stress management and resiliency program (3RP) to meet your specific needs.  You will be compensated for your participation.
  • Who can participate?  They are looking for people who are least 16 years old, were diagnosed with cancer between ages 15 – 23, and who have completed cancer treatment within the past 5 years.
  • How do I join?  If you would like to learn more about this research study, please tell your oncologist or contact the study coordinator, Emily Walsh at 617.724.1414 or at EWalsh8@mgh.harvard.edu

Thank you for considering a research study!  You will be helping gather important information about a training that may help other patients in the future.

Join Lacuna Loft For A Caring For the Caregiver App Chat

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Lacuna Loft’s CEO, Mallory, along with Chasing Rainbows: Young Adult Cancer Advocacy‘s Pat Taylor are going on Gryt Health’s app to discuss Caring for the Caregiver on  December 12th at 6 pm PT / 8 pm CT / 9 pm ET!  We’ll have a lively discussion in the Caregiver Chat Room about types of caregivers, recognizing the importance of self-care’, how to self-care as a caregiver, building a stable community of caregiver support, and more.

Pat Taylor became an AYA cancer advocate when her daughter, Sara, age 23, was diagnosed with cancer back in 1997. Addressing the lack of support resources for her peers and caregivers, Sara and Pat produced and distributed two films, Sara’s Story and Chasing Rainbows Young Adults Living With Cancer, and Chasing Rainbows Young Adult Cancer Advocacy was born.

Since then, along with other advocates and their support resources, Pat has watched the AYA Cancer Voice grow from a tiny whisper to empowered roar! Caregivers helped make this happen.

As a Parent and Advocate, Pat joins this Gryt Health Caregiver Chat, to share and explore with other Caregivers the immediate needs and ongoing challenges we face while navigating the unpredictable cancer storyline with our loved ones. Self Care is the key to being the kind of Caregiver we strive to be. How do we make it so? Join Pat to learn more.

Mallory Casperson was forced into the world of young adult cancer caregiving in graduate school when her mother was diagnosed with cancer. She was fortunate enough to serve as one of her mother’s primary caregivers during the last months of her life.

Two month’s after her mother passed, Mallory was diagnosed with cancer herself. Several years into her survivorship, Lacuna Loft, a nonprofit organization offering online support programs to young adult cancer survivors and caregivers, was created to connect young adults facing cancer together.

Understanding young adult cancer from both the caregiving and the survivor experience has allowed Mallory to become a strong advocate in the young adult cancer community. Self-care is key to any caregiving experience and Mallory is excited to talk caregiving with Gryt Health!

Calling All LGBTQ YA Cancer Survivors And Caregivers

LGBTQ flag in window

Hey there, young adult cancer survivors and caregivers!  Lacuna Loft wants to add some LGBTQ specific content to our Young Adult Voices Blog!  Interested in sharing your voice and perspective?  Send an email to info@lacunaloft.org with the subject line: LGBTQ Voices!  We’ll get back in touch with you within a few days and we’ll go from there.

We’re looking for anything you’d like to share: your experience being treated for cancer, your experience with health insurance, your experience dating during or after cancer, your experience with your partner/spouse during or after cancer, you name it.  If the topic is important to you as an LGBTQ young adult cancer survivor or caregiver, we want to hear about it and share it on the Young Adult Voice Blog!

Sephora National Classes For Confidence Week!

sephora stands

As a proud partner with Sephora, we are super excited to tell you about a great opportunity!  Sephora Stands with those facing major life transitions. Sephora’s Brave Beauty in the Face of Cancer Classes for Confidence were created by employees who are survivors to help others address the visible effects of cancer treatment. From skincare tips to step-by-step instructions on how to create a radiant complexion or re-build brows and lashes lost from chemo or radiation, these FREE in-store classes are designed to empower you throughout your journey.

Sephora’s National Classes for Confidence Week is coming up September 10-16 and many stores are hosting a Brave Beauty class.

To find a Brave Beauty class at a Sephora near you, please click here. Scroll down until you see “Brave Beauty in the Face of Cancer” and then type in your location.

Lacuna Loft Honored By 40 Under 40 In Cancer

chicago skyline

Often, when I write a blog post for Lacuna Loft, I wear my ‘young adult cancer survivor’ hat.  Today though, I’m super proud to wear my ‘CEO of Lacuna Loft’ hat and tell you that I was honored as one of the ’40 Under 40 In Cancer’!  You can read more below about the award and check out the rest of the list of people celebrated too.  One of our volunteers and Board Members, Aerial, was also recognized.  If you’ve experienced one of our Creative Art Workshops, you’ve probably met Aerial.

I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am about this recognition.  It is about so much more than me though…it is about all of us.  It’s about all of the voices and stories that have brought Lacuna Loft to life over the past 4 years.  Thank you.  Please continue showing up and being brave with your voices and your stories.  We gather courage and strength from one another.

You can read more about the award here.

Register TODAY For The Young Adult Cancer Action Day

young adult cancer action day

Let’s storm Washington for the first ever Young Adult Cancer Day.

June 21!  This day will be much more than just knocking on doors — you’ll also receive training from legislation and policy experts so that you’ll be better informed on young adult issues, more confident in meeting with lawmakers, and more persuasive in making your case on Action Day (and in the future)!

REGISTER TODAY!  Lacuna Loft will reimburse the registration cost for the first 3 people who register using our discount code!!!  (Just send us proof of registration to mallory@lacunaloft.org)!

It’s time our lawmakers heard from us – the ones who were “too young” for cancer. It’s time they work with us to transform young adult cancer care in the United States.

Registration will be open until June 15, 2018. Your registration fee includes:

  • Training session with policy and advocacy experts;
  • Materials to leave with policymakers and take home so you can follow-up;
  • Digital organizer filled with maps, your meeting schedule, and talking points;
  • Kick-Off breakfast with special guests and Members of Congress;
  • Welcome reception and networking with AYA advocates from across the country; and
  • Action Day Happy Hour with national health care leaders.

Have hotel, transportation, and/or schedule questions? Everything you need to know can be found here. (Just remember, if you’re registering use this link for Lacuna Loft’s discount code!)

Living Beyond Breast Cancer’s Young Advocate Program

LBBC Young Advocate Program

Living Beyond Breast Cancer’s Young Advocate Program provides the tools and training to help young women use their personal breast cancer experience to make a difference in their communities by raising awareness, further their understanding of the disease and advocate for others. This opportunity is geared toward women diagnosed with breast cancer before age 45 who live in the United States.

After the training, Young Advocates are tasked with connecting others to LBBC through grassroots outreach within their community and completing two advocacy related activities within 1 year. In the past, Young Advocates have spoken at events in their communities, participated in research review boards, raised awareness of young women affected by breast cancer through blog posts and social media outreach, shared LBBC materials with healthcare providers and more.

The next Young Advocate training will be held July 26-28 in Linthicum, MD (outside of Baltimore).  The deadline to apply is May 23, 2018.

Learn more and apply here!

Have You Heard Of STARTRK2 Ignyta Clinical Trial?

Ignyta Clinical Trial

Lacuna Loft’s mission is bringing resources and support to young adult cancer survivors and caregivers.  Sometimes that means we run an awesome Writing Group and sometimes that means talking about the importance of clinical trials and other studies in which you can take part.

Ignyta is running a trial and bringing molecular testing to the forefront of cancer cures.  From Ignyta:

We’re writing to share information about the STARTRK-2 clinical trial (sponsored by Ignyta) that is currently recruiting patients across the country who have solid tumors harboring NTRK, ROS1, or ALK fusions.  Fusions are a certain type of DNA defect that have been reported to be oncogenic, meaning they could be a cause of your cancer.  By performing molecular testing on a piece of your tumor tissue, it may determine if your cancer has one of these fusions.

Ignyta can provide no-cost molecular testing to see if you may qualify for the trial.  In most cases, this test can be performed on a tumor sample that was previously obtained via biopsy and stored, avoiding the need for a new biopsy.

Eligible patients enrolled into the trial will receive a new investigational drug called Entrectinib.  Entrectinib has shown preliminary antitumor activity in many different types of cancers.  Click here to learn more about a recent update from our Phase 1 study.

Please speak with your doctor to determine if molecular testing is right for you.  You may also contact Ignyta at 1.844.STARTRK or via email at STARTRKtrials@ignyta.com to learn more about the trial and to find a participating study center near you.

Have you been molecularly tested?  Interested in other studies?  Check out more information we’ve shared recently here.

Cancer and Careers is hosting their National Conference on Work & Cancer!

national conference on work and cancer

Lacuna Loft is pleased to partner with Cancer and Careers on the 8th Annual National Conference on Work & Cancer, on Friday, June 22, 2018, in New York City!

This FREE event will explore the complexities working people face as they try to balance their cancer treatment and recovery with employment. Topics will include job search, legal issues, health insurance, working during treatment and more.  CEUs will be offered for oncology nurses and social workers. Applications for travel scholarships are being accepted until April 13th!

For more details or to register, please visit www.cancerandcareers.org/conference.

College Scholarship Program From Expect Miracles Foundation

college after cancer scholarship

Do you know a young adult that has or had cancer and is preparing for college?

Expect Miracles Foundation established its college scholarship program to help students who would find attending college to be a significant financial burden due to their history/current diagnosis with cancer. This scholarship of up to $20,000, is intended to help an individual(s) who has been impacted by cancer – either in treatment or remission – to attend a 4-year college or university in pursuit of a degree.

APPLICATIONS DUE BY:
April 8, 2018 11:59 EST

Eligibility requirements:
Must have been diagnosed with cancer (previously or currently diagnosed)
Must be a high school senior or college freshman, sophomore, or junior
Must be enrolled to attend an accredited college or university in the Fall of 2018 or Spring of 2019
Must be a U.S. citizen, or documented permanent resident of the U.S. (or US Territory)
Never at any time have been subjected to any disciplinary action by any institution or entity, including, but not limited to, any educational or law enforcement agency.
Must have been treated for cancer at a cancer facility in New England or the greater New York area (CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT) or must be a resident of New England or the greater New York area (CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT)
Previous Expect Miracles Foundation scholarship winners may apply

Learn more and apply here!