Who to Tell & How: Communicating Your Cancer Diagnosis
 When You’re Figuring Out How to Share the News Receiving a cancer diagnosis as a young adult can feel surreal. You might still be replaying the words from the […]
Practical Ways to Support a Young Adult With Cancer (and Avoid “Cancer Ghosting”)
The b-there Guide: How to Show Up for a Friend Facing Cancer When a Friend Tells You They Have Cancer You just found out your friend has cancer. And […]
Support Languages: How to Support Someone in the Way They Need Most
Most of us have heard of love languages, the idea that people with different personalities give and receive love in different ways (The 5 Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman). […]
Breaking the Silence: Understanding Stigma and Showing Up for Each Other Through Cancer
You’ve likely heard the word “stigma” tossed around when it comes to mental health, chronic illness, or social issues, but what does it really mean? At its core, stigma = […]
Why Saying “Let Me Know if You Need Anything” Isn’t Enough
When someone we care about is diagnosed with cancer, it’s natural to feel unsure of what to do or say. We want to help, but we don’t want to overstep. […]
Pass the Presence: What to Write in a Card of Support for a Young Adult with Cancer
You pick a card and flip it open. The inside is blank, and your brain freezes. What do I write to someone my age who’s dealing with cancer? How real […]
How to Support a Partner Through Cancer: A Young Couple’s Story of Staying
“I didn’t want to put this burden on her.” Matt met Lauren on St. Patrick’s Day in 2016. They were only a couple of months into dating when his entire […]
The Obvious Things, The Hard Things: Showing Up for My Partner During Cancer
When your partner is diagnosed with cancer, there’s no handbook, no checklist, and no magic words. You’re thrown into an emotional hurricane where love, fear, guilt, and helplessness collide. Being […]
The Power of Showing Up: Kyle & Jessica’s Story of Sibling Support Through Cancer
Cancer doesn’t just hit one person. It hits everyone who loves them. It crashes into families, friendships, and futures, flipping life upside down in an instant. For Kyle Javer, diagnosed […]
The Room They Left Behind: A Parent’s Perspective on Grief and Healing
When I watched a recent CBS Sunday Morning with Jane Pauley segment, “Portrait of a Person Who’s Not There,” I was struck by how familiar it felt. In it, Steve […]
Inside the Mind of a Young Adult Caregiver with Vivian Nunez
Vivian Nuñez was 21, interning at Cosmo, finishing college, and making end-of-life decisions for her grandmother. Her grandmother was Vivian’s legal guardian, her only parent figure, and, at that moment, […]
Turning Adversity Into Advocacy: Juanita’s Roadmap from Survivor to Changemaker
“I felt confused, heartbroken…like I was being punished,” recalls 2x childhood cancer survivor Juanita Parada, remembering the moment, at just 10 years old, when she first heard those harrowing words, […]
Bonus Time: Marc Anthony Sepulveda’s Story of Cancer, Creativity, and Showing Up Anyway
At b-present, we believe in showing up—awkwardly, imperfectly, but with heart. That’s why we’re telling the story of Marc Anthony Sepulveda. He’s an actor, filmmaker, colon cancer survivor, and unapologetic […]
Cancer Anxiety: How to Support a Loved One Facing the Fear
Cancer anxiety doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed. For young adults with cancer, it can feel like life has been turned upside down. Every plan is uncertain, and even small […]
From Survivor to Changemaker: Building a More Inclusive Future for LGBTQIA+ AYA Cancer Survivors
“We didn’t want to have LGBTQ in the name to make it safe for those who are not out to their families or communities. We just look like another cancer […]
Different Cancers, Different Challenges: How to Support Your Person Like a Pro (Even When You’re Not One)
Cancer Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All…And Neither Is Support Every type of cancer brings unique challenges, and as a supporter, your presence matters. Here’s a quick guide to understanding the differences and showing […]
How to Create a Post-Cancer Vision Board
You survived. Now it’s time to dream again. Let’s be honest: Life after cancer is complicated. You’ve made it through the chaos of diagnosis, treatment, side effects, and maybe even […]
How to Keep Patients Safe: A Caregiver’s Point of View
When someone you love is diagnosed with cancer, your whole world shifts. Your role changes. Your priorities rearrange. Suddenly, you’re not just a friend, sibling, or partner, you’re a caregiver. […]
What is AYA Cancer? The Voices in the Middle That Refuse to Be Ignored
Wait…what even is AYA cancer? Adolescents and Young Adults (AYAs) are people between the ages of 15 and 39 who are diagnosed with cancer. It’s a life stage full of […]
The 7 Stages of Grief: Navigating Loss and Finding Support After a Cancer Diagnosis
Grief is the deep sorrow we feel when faced with loss—and loss comes in many forms. It’s not just about losing a loved one; it can be the loss of […]