The MATCH Study: Mindfulness Meditation

mindfulness meditation and cancer

Cancer Knowledge Network (CKN) has partnered with Dr. Linda Carlson and her research team at the University of Calgary and the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, in a ground-breaking new study measuring the effects of Mindfulness Meditation and Tai Chi/Qigong on the quality of life for cancer survivors.

The MATCH Study is being offered both in Calgary and Toronto over the next 3 years and is now recruiting cancer survivors!

To learn more, go here and here!

Announcing Our New Speaker Series Program

young adult cancer speakers

I am so happy to announce today that we’ve launched our Speaker Series!  You’ll hear monthly from various speakers, always with young adult cancer in mind.  We’ll hear personal stories, we’ll hear about searching for purpose, genetic testing and hereditary cancers, about how legislation affects the young adult cancer community and about how you can use your voice to change the world, and more.

How will it work?  We’ll announce a Speaker Series Talk ahead of time and allow you all to submit questions to the speaker.  Then the talk will go live at 5 AM on the scheduled date.  You’ll be able to watch the talk whenever you’d like and hear your questions answered on the topic at hand.  Together we’ll learn and grow and hear answers to those tough questions.

Stay tuned later this week for our first Speaker Series Talk announcement!

If you have an idea for a talk that you’d like to hear or you’d like to give, fill out the form below!

Flashback #27: Minority Within Minority – #AintIaSurvivor

minority young adult cancer survivor

To celebrate our 2-year anniversary of being a nonprofit, Lacuna Loft is bringing back our top 31 articles from our archives!  This is Flashback #27: Minority Within Minority – #AintIaSurvivor was written by Christabel. These 31 articles are the best of the best and we’re very happy to share them with you again!  The countdown continues tomorrow!

….Well, at least they adjusted for age, which doesn’t usually happen for young adults treated in oncology settings that typically have a geriatric bent on everything. But even when focusing on the margins, my needs were left out. Young, Asian, and cancerous, I was a racial minority within a minority population of young adult cancer patients – a disregarded minority within a minority.

Often, in efforts to be culturally responsive, clinical practice addresses the needs of the burgeoning Asian American patient population by making things available in various Asian languages – language access is considered tantamount to health equity. Although language is indeed hugely important for those with limited English proficiency, it is not the panacea for the complete set of challenges facing Asian Americans who seek health care.

“They don’t know,” translated into whatever language still means, “They don’t know.”…

……

Read the rest of the article here!

Sephora Launches New Brave Beauty In The Face Of Cancer Classes!

sephora stands

Sephora is proud to launch Brave Beauty in the Face of Cancer, its newest Class for Confidence. This free 90 minute class teaches soothing skincare routines and quick fix make up tricks to help restore glow, and the appearance of brows and lashes that may be affected by cancer treatment. Bring your friends and family to join in the fun. Find a class and sign up here: https://goo.gl/bD1G3k!!!

Lacuna Loft is proud to help spread the word for Sephora and Sephora Stands.  Let us know if you join a class near you!

3 Important Questions To Ask At Your Mammogram Appointment

questions to ask at your mammogram appointment

“Breast density is recognized as one of, and possibly the strongest risk factor associated with development of breast cancer, according to the National Institute of Health.”

Getting cancer is complicated, especially as a young adult.  Your peer group won’t be well armed to advise you on all of the ‘shoulds’ and ‘coulds’ of the situation so you’ll likely be figuring a lot out on your own.  If you’re going in for a mammogram though, now you have someone in your court!  For the Love of Cups has put together 3 important questions to ask at your next mammogram appointment.  Arming yourself with as much power behind your self-advocacy as possible is crucial to taking charge of your own care.  You know your body better than anyone else!

Read the entire article here.

Affordable Care ACT FAQ From Critical Mass

Affordable Care Act FAQ

Lucky for us, Critical Mass has been staying completely on top of all of the changes that are happening in Washington to the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a the ACA or Obamacare.

Critical Mass has even put together a great FAQ that you can find here.  Have questions?  Now many of them are put together all in one place!  Changes are happening rapidly as the House of Representatives and the Senate decide on exactly what “repeal and replace” of the ACA will look like but now you have the information you need to be informed.  If you find that you still have questions, Critical Mass has set up a text system where you can send your questions.

Have you sent any questions yet?  Let us know!

Affordable Care Act FAQ

Tell Congress That You Need Your Healthcare

#ProtectOurCare

Politics in the United States are changing every day.  One of the policies under scrutiny is the Affordable Care Act, also known as the ACA and as Obamacare.  The ACA made many strides towards helping cancer patients and survivors obtain and maintain their health insurance coverage.  There is fear that changes made to the ACA (or the repeal of it entirely) will dramatically impede the young adult cancer community in having quality and affordable health insurance.  You have the power to let your voice be heard.  Are you only covered because of the ACA?  Before the ACA removed lifetime caps in coverage, would you have run out of coverage due to cancer treatments?  Were you able to change jobs or take time off of work because of the flexibility the ACA finally allowed people with pre-existing conditions…*cough* cancer *cough.*

Tell your members of congress that you need your healthcare! The NCCS has a tip sheet and a sample script to make it SUPER easy!  Make a call, send a postcard, tell your story.

Your story matters.  Make it heard.

Design And Technology To The Rescue!

HopeLab

HopeLab, an innovative design and technology company, needs your input!  They are currently designing a tool kit for young adult cancer patients and survivors and are looking for people to help out.

What if there was a better way to manage the role cancer plays in your life? What if you could help design tech tools that did just that? Your input and experience can help HopeLab design tech products to support adolescent and young adult cancer patients navigating life after treatment. If you’re between the ages of 15-25 and are on treatment or recently off treatment or if this sounds like something that’s really exciting to you, send them a text and get in touch.

HopeLab

The Samfund Grant Application Information

samfund grants

It is that time of year!  The Samfund has opened their grant cycle and is accepting applications!

Go here to find all of the information but the applications are due on February 1st at 5 pm EST!

From their website…

We proudly provide financial assistance to young adults as they regain momentum in their lives after cancer. Since 2005, we have awarded over $1,700,000 to recipients across the country.

Am I eligible to apply?

You are eligible to apply if you are a U.S. resident, are a cancer survivor between the ages of 21 and 39 at the time when Part I is submitted and meet ONE of the following criteria:

Completed planned treatment with no evidence of disease, or
One year following the completion of planned treatment with stable disease, or
In remission and on long-term hormonal therapy (such as Tamoxifen for breast cancer survivors) or long-term targeted therapy (such as Gleevec or Herceptin)
If you meet these criteria at the time when Part I is submitted, you are eligible to apply.

Learn more here!

CancerOwl Is Taking Submissions

cancerowl

Have you heard of CancerOwl.com?  He is a totally rad young adult cancer survivor who has spent the last year or so telling his story via comic!  He draws himself as an owl and creatively brings you along as he tells various pieces of his own story.

Now he is taking submissions to help tell other peoples’ stories too!  You can submit your story here!

P.S.  Matt from CancerOwl.com is also leading our Comic Workshop!  There is still time to sign up!

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