06/09/2026
What does loss look like after cancer?
What does it feel like to carry grief while continuing to move through everyday life?
For our upcoming digital theme, Navigating Loss, we are inviting the AYA cancer community to share personal stories and reflections centered on grief and the many ways loss can shape us.
This call for submissions is an opportunity to speak honestly about the experiences that often go unspoken — and to remind one another that grief does not have to be navigated alone.
Submissions are due this Friday, June 12th. We can’t wait to read your work!
Prompts to consider:
What is a loss you’ve experienced during your cancer experience that others might not immediately recognize as “loss”? How has it shaped you or impacted you?
Reflect on something you used to be able to do, dream about, or count on before cancer that feels out of reach now or more challenging to obtain. What emotions come up when you think about that shift?
Write to the version of yourself who has lived through loss. What would you want them to know, to remember, or to release?
How does grief walk beside you in daily life? Does it whisper, shout, or sit quietly in the corner? What is it like to recognize or allow grief into the spaces with you?
For the Caregivers: Reflect on the losses you’ve experienced as a caregiver – loss of normalcy, time, energy, or even aspects of your relationship with your loved one. How have you navigated these losses, and what has helped you cope or find meaning in the midst of them?
Submit here: https://elephantsandtea.org/contact/write-for-us/
