COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Connecting to other young adults facing similar concerns can provide a powerful support structure during your cancer experience. The sections below list organizations that help you meet with AYA cancer survivors, as well as view Survivor Stories from those who have faced the same experiences and concerns.

Meet and Chat with Other Survivors

• Camp Mak-A-Dream
• CancerCare
• The Children’s Cause for Cancer Advocacy
• Childrens Hospital Los Angeles
• Children’s Oncology Services
• First Descents
• FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered) local groups and online chat room
• Gilda’s Club
• HopeLab
• Imerman Angels
• Lance Armstrong Foundation
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
• Melissa’s Living Legacy Foundation
• National Brain Tumor Foundation
• Next Step
• Planet Cancer
• Prepare to Live
• Realtime Cancer
• Sharsheret
• Tigerlily
• Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults
• The Wellness Community
• Young Survival Coalition annual conference and community networks

Survivor Stories

The Lance Armstrong Foundation’s Survivor Stories provide different perspectives on how survivors addressed various issues and concerns raised while living with cancer. In addition to the following selected stories specific to adolescents and young adults with cancer, you can also see the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s complete library of Survivor Stories.

• Amy Dilbeck (age 18-24)
  Topics discussed: Body Image; Dating and New Relationships; Finding Meaning; Physical Rehabilitation; Telling Others You are a Survivor
• Chris Oravec (age 25-34)
  Topics discussed: Emotional Support; Health Insurance; Healthy Behaviors; Hope; Life Insurance; Male Infertility; Setting Priorities
• "http://www.livestrong.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=khLXK1PxHmF&b=2661271&ct=3755511">Daniel and Elizabeth Navisky (age 25-34)
  Topics discussed: Dating and New Relationships; Fear of Recurrence; Finding Meaning; Grief and Loss; Male Infertility
• Fayruz Benyousef (age 25-34)
  Topics discussed: Body Image; Chronic Pain; Emotional Support; Fatigue; Healthy Behaviors; Setting Priorities; Stress; Telling Others You are a Survivor
• Hugo Gomez (age 18-24)
  Topics discussed: Dating and New Relationships Meeting Other Survivors Physical Rehabilitation Sadness and Depression
• Lily Standefer (age 15-17)
  Topics discussed: Aftereffects of Cancer Treatment; Body Image; Health Insurance; Healthy Behaviors
• Lisa Boushay Owmby (age 35-44)
  Topics discussed: Body Image; Dating and New Relationships; Healthy Behaviors; Lymphedema; Sadness and Depression
• Michael Lin (age 18-24)
  Topics discussed: Emotional Support; Fear of Recurrence; Finding Meaning; Grief and Loss; Healthy Behaviors; Hope; Male Infertility; Setting Priorities
• Tamika Felder (age 25-34)
  Topics discussed: Chronic Pain; Communicate With Your Health Care Team; Dating and New Relationships; Female Infertility; Female Sexual Dysfunction; Grief and Loss; Second Cancers; Setting Priorities; Telling Others You are a Survivor
• Trinika Crawford (age 18-24)
  Topics discussed: Body Image; Finding Meaning; Physical Rehabilitation