The Elephant in the Room is Cancer. Tea is the Relief Conversation Provides.

Dear Cancer

Each year we ask the AYA cancer community to submit letters to cancer to express their feelings about how cancer has changed their lives. People explore an array of emotions in these letters, including anger, sadness, gratitude, and hope.

Want to submit an article or write your own letter to cancer? Click Here.

Dear Breast Cancer, I’m Celebrating the Wins

by Amy L. July 16, 2023

On August 24, 2022, at 40 years old I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was living blissfully unaware and taking “normal” for granted.

Cancer, you took what I thought defined my beauty: my breasts, my nipples, my hair and eyebrows, the brightness in my eyes. You put my body through the wringer with early menopause, sleepless nights filled with tears and anxiety, pains, diarrhea, 12 extra pounds, bloating, and depression.

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Dear Cancer, It’s Time to Break Up

by Chelsey Gomez July 12, 2023

Dear Cancer,

When you first entered my life, I greeted you with my fists up, ready to fight. You were scary… but I knew giving up was scarier. You never failed to remind me day after day that you were there. You whispered in my ear, “Time is running out. Just give up. You’re never getting out of here alive.”

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Dear Cancer, I Knew That Something Was Lurking

by Theresa Rees

Dear Cancer,

I’m not really sure how to address you. You’re kind of like that mean girl who bullies just because she can or the mysterious stranger in the corner of the room—the kind that people are interested in but don’t want anything to do with.

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Dear Cancer, You Weren’t Invited

by Dana Garcia July 10, 2023

Dear Cancer,

You came into my life abruptly and invaded my body. The moment I heard your name you terrorized my soul until it was dust in the wind. You are soul-crushing. Every cancer patient would agree that we wish we would have never met you. But here we are. You make the strongest souls weak.

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Dear Cancer, You Tried to Take My Life Away Twice

by Danette Toledo June 30, 2023

Dear Cancer,

On Feb 26, 2023, you surprised me when I was referred to a blood specialist. My blood count showed I was anemic and the numbers got very high. My doctors could not figure out why I was anemic or why my abdominal area felt hard around my belly.

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Dear Cancer, Thank You, But Never Come Back

by Mandy Brixey June 28, 2023

Dear Cancer,

It’s been nearly a year since you were evicted. I don’t miss you. But that doesn’t mean I’m grateful for this experience with you. So I wanted to write a letter to tell you my feelings. While you stayed silent, I still have my voice, both literally and figuratively. I won’t let you just leave without my feelings being known.

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Dear Cancer, You Are Now My Chronic Illness

by Katrina Lopez

Dear Cancer,

You have changed my life in ways you will never know. It was the beginning of January 2020 when we first officially met. It was a cool and cloudy day. I was sitting in bed watching HGTV when I received the call. I was 30. I had all of these plans and adventures I was going to conquer next, but this is far from what I had in mind. No one could have prepared me for this “adventure”—this diagnosis, my dad unexpectedly passing away, and the start of the pandemic all within months of one another.

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Dear Cancer, You Were So Far Off My Radar

by Carli Ruskauff June 27, 2023

Dear Cancer,

You were so far off my radar that when you showed up I dismissed you as commonplace things. I was young and the fittest I had been in a long time. You first arrived as bruises on my shins in November 2020. I was getting back into rock climbing and of course, I had bruises. Soon it became comical how bruised I was. I shared you with friends and family. Look at this, I am so clumsy.

“Maybe you’re low on iron. Eat a steak and some spinach.”

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Dear Cancer, What Do You Bring to the Table?

by Stephanie Millett June 26, 2023

Dear Cancer,

What can I say that hasn’t already been said? You took my job, my house, my normal life, and now you take up space in my mind and body?

What do you bring to the table?

Pain and sadness. There are appointment times and pings throughout my back and shoulders as I stand in line, waiting to tell someone my name and DOB for the millionth time.

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Dear Cancer, I Hear You

by Emilee Krupa June 23, 2023

Dear Cancer,

Thank you.

Thank you for reminding me of what matters in life. I used to wonder why you chose me; why at 33 years old you found me. Now, I get it.

2022 was the hardest year of my life. I was feeling burnt out at work and was dreaming about striking out on my own.

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