CancerCon 2026

The Teen Cancer America Team went to CancerCon in Seattle this month in partnership with Stupid Cancer. It is the largest gathering of adolescent and young adults (AYA) who have or had cancer in the United States! Hundreds of patients, survivors, caregivers, advocates, and health professionals gathered in Seattle WA for the chance to share, learn, and most importantly connect with one another. We were well represented with TCA team members Betty Roggenkamp and Catherine Swift running packed sessions addressing fertility preservation and grief. TCA also provided a jewelry-making station for people to decompress, alongside Play It Back’s Kenli Mattus who played the guitar and sang songs with community members. 

Teen Cancer America Sessions–

No Time to Decide: The AYA Fertility Preservation Pressure Cooker

Betty Roggenkamp, MS, AYA Program Development Strategist, led a session was on the time pressures and stress around fertility decision-making while contending with a cancer diagnosis featured AYAs and Caregivers in a panel-style presentation. They dove into what it’s truly like for AYAs to make life-altering, highly emotional decisions all while trying to process their diagnosis and coordinate their medical care. This unique session will help healthcare providers continuously show up for AYAs because they know all AYAs deserve clarity, compassion, and choices rather than confusion and chaos.

Speaking Up About Losses Created by Cancer

Catherine Swift, MSW, LCSW, Care Delivery Strategist, ran a session on grief where participants could share the stories of their losses created by cancer in order to not only give themselves permission to grieve, but also help pave a path of courage for others to do the same. This discussion session created the space to explore how we can choose empathy to fuel connection in grief, reduce the shame and stigma associated with grief, and use our voices as powerful tools for self-expression.