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

January, 18th 2025: Join us for food, drinks, dancing, and author sharing — all to support our mission. Learn more here!

Posts by Elephants & Tea

Session #5 – Writing in the Care of AYAs Facing Cancer

by Elephants & Tea February 5, 2025

This session will review why narrative medicine and reflective writing are important tenants of caring for AYAs, as well as Dr. Venkataraman’s personal experiences with writing and patient care.

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Session #4 – Fertility and Family Planning For Young Adults After a Cancer Diagnosis

by Elephants & Tea February 4, 2025

This session will focus on the importance of discussing the risk for infertility and fertility preservation options with AYA patients and provide various strategies and techniques for these conversations.

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Session #3 – Words Matter: The Impact of Communication for Young Adults with Cancer

by Elephants & Tea December 18, 2024

This session will focus on both the challenges and benefits of communication with AYAs in the context of illness and how it can significantly influence emotional well-being and overall quality of life.

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Session #1 – Persistent Gaps in Adolescent and Young Adult Care

by Elephants & Tea October 28, 2024

This talk will explore the persistent gaps in cancer care for AYAs, highlighting disparities in access, supportive care, treatment, and survivorship. We will discuss the unique psychosocial and medical needs of AYA patients that are often overlooked and under addressed.

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Great White Lies

by Elephants & Tea November 18, 2019

Hi! My name is Heather Alison. I am 22 years old and I am a two-time cancer survivor. I am asking for your support for my senior thesis at NYU, “Great White Lies.” Visit my fundraising page by clicking on the link below to help me bring this film to life!

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When Life Throws You Cancer: Dark Nights Will Bring Brighter Days

by Elephants & Tea September 4, 2019

Three of our young adult cancer survivors discuss the importance of having hope through a cancer diagnosis.

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First Day of the Rest of My Life

by Starr Coleman April 23, 2019

I felt confused, scared, and angry that I, a 27 year old, had breast cancer. After a few sleepless days and tons of research (if you know me, I really mean tons) I accepted it. I wanted to fight this with an amount of optimism and positivity that I have never really known.

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The Freckle Effect

by Erika Jane April 4, 2019

While getting ready for work, I noticed a small lump in my left armpit. Believing I was a healthy, 35-year old female with no risk factors for cancer- I assumed that my body was fighting a germ and went about my day.

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Here is How I Owned Cancer

by Champaigne Corfee March 21, 2019

December 7th 2017, that’s the date that the tumor was found in my femur. One of several upcoming dates in the months to come filled with experiences I never imagined I would have to endure. Including January 30th 2018, the day I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma.

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How Race Can Affect Your Cancer Prognosis

by Marjorie A. Speers, Ph.D. February 19, 2019

Cancer is color blind. It affects adolescents and young adults (AYA) of all races and ethnic groups. Yet young patients in some groups tend to do worse than others. The obvious question is “why?” And the answer is that we simply don’t know. What we do know is that African-American adolescents and young adults are less likely to get cancer than whites of the same age—but more likely to die of the disease.

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