Who​ ​are​ ​young​ ​adults​ ​with​ ​cancer​?​ ​A​ ​young​ ​adult​ ​facing​ ​cancer​ ​is​ ​15-40​ ​years​ ​old;​ ​there​ ​are​ ​approximately 70,000​ ​new​ ​diagnoses​ ​yearly.

 Why​ ​are​ ​young​ ​adults​ ​with​ ​cancer​ ​unique?​​ ​​ ​Patients​ ​in​ ​this​ ​age​ ​range​ ​are​ ​High​ ​School​ ​or​ ​College​ ​students, newlyweds​ ​or​ ​maybe​ ​a​ ​new​ ​parent​ ​with​ ​young​ ​children.​ ​​ ​They​ ​are​ ​just​ ​starting​ ​to​ ​figure​ ​out​ ​their​ ​lives, whether​ ​that​ ​be​ ​becoming​ ​an​ ​adult​ ​in​ ​the​ ​later​ ​stages​ ​of​ ​High​ ​School,​ ​leaving​ ​home​ ​for​ ​the​ ​first​ ​time,​ ​starting their​ ​first​ ​career​ ​or​ ​just​ ​starting​ ​a​ ​family.

Why​ ​is​ ​this​ ​so​ ​important?​​ ​​ ​There’s​ ​no​ ​good​ ​time​ ​to​ ​get​ ​cancer,​ ​but​ ​being​ ​diagnosed​ ​with​ ​cancer​ ​as​ ​a​ ​young adult​ ​is​ ​especially​ ​challenging.​ ​​ ​Young​ ​adults​ ​are​ ​old​ ​enough​ ​to​ ​make​ ​their​ ​own​ ​decisions​ ​regarding​ ​treatment and​ ​they​ ​fully​ ​understand​ ​the​ ​gravity​ ​of​ ​the​ ​situation.​ ​​ ​Yet​ ​they​ ​are​ ​still​ ​relatively​ ​inexperienced​ ​in​ ​facing serious​ ​illness​ ​and​ ​handling​ ​something​ ​so​ ​traumatic​ ​alone.​ ​​ ​UCF​ ​ensures​ ​that​ ​they’re​ ​not​ ​alone.

My​ ​Connection​ ​to​ ​this​ ​program:​​ ​​I​ ​was​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Army​ ​for​ ​2​ ​years​ ​when​ ​I​ ​was​ ​diagnosed​ ​with​ ​testicular​ ​cancer while​ ​stationed​ ​in​ ​Germany.​ ​After​ ​being​ ​diagnosed​ ​I​ ​felt​ ​scared​ ​and​ ​alone.​ ​My​ ​wife​ ​and​ ​family​ ​were​ ​there​ ​for me​ ​but​ ​for​ ​some​ ​odd​ ​reason​ ​I​ ​still​ ​felt​ ​alone.​ ​​ ​After​ ​my​ ​second​ ​surgery​ ​(RPLND)​ ​Meghan​ ​from​ ​the​ ​Ulman Cancer​ ​Fund​ ​reached​ ​out​ ​to​ ​me​ ​and​ ​introduced​ ​me​ ​to​ ​other​ ​Service​ ​Members​ ​fighting​ ​cancer.​ ​At​ ​first​ ​I​ ​was timid​ ​about​ ​meeting​ ​everyone​ ​and​ ​still​ ​felt​ ​alone,​ ​but​ ​as​ ​soon​ ​as​ ​I​ ​saw​ ​everyone​ ​opening​ ​up,​ ​I​ ​realized​ ​I wasn't​ ​alone.​ ​I've​ ​been​ ​in​ ​remission​ ​now​ ​since​ ​April​ ​2016​ ​and​ ​have​ ​felt​ ​so​ ​lucky​ ​since​ ​then.​ ​I​ ​spent​ ​a​ ​few months​ ​recovering​ ​from​ ​chemo​ ​and​ ​the​ ​emotional​ ​turn​ ​of​ ​cancer.​ ​I've​ ​met​ ​so​ ​many​ ​other​ ​service​ ​members who​ ​have​ ​been​ ​diagnosed​ ​with​ ​cancer/leukemia​ ​and​ ​knowing​ ​that​ ​you​ ​have​ ​a​ ​team/family​ ​with​ ​you​ ​while you​ ​are​ ​fighting​ ​cancer​ ​makes​ ​so​ ​much​ ​difference. Especially after battling cancer you have so many questions and concerns and I have been able to be there for people battling cancer or recovering. Ulman has given me a platform to be a "patient ambassador" (A term I'm trying to coin) for service members. After IVF wifh my wife and having a beautiful baby girl, Ulman provided so much support and a team I could share my story with opening my heart so much. Doing Point 2 Point in the past my life changed and being able to raise awareness all along the east coast was truly amazing! 

Ulman​ ​Cancer​ ​Fund:​​ ​The​ ​Ulman​ ​Cancer​ ​Fund​ ​has​ ​been​ ​a​ ​leading​ ​organization​ ​in​ ​providing​ ​support​ ​for​ ​young adults​ ​facing​ ​cancer.​ ​​ ​This​ ​includes​ ​social​ ​support​ ​through​ ​group​ ​meetings​ ​and​ ​social​ ​events​ ​that​ ​connect young​ ​adults​ ​with​ ​cancer,​ ​Cancer​ ​to​ ​5k​ ​races​ ​and​ ​other​ ​physical​ ​events​ ​to​ ​help​ ​patients​ ​recover​ ​from treatment,​ ​and​ ​many​ ​other​ ​publications​ ​and​ ​therapeutic​ ​events.​ ​​ ​They​ ​even​ ​sponsor​ ​my​ ​Young​ ​Adult​ ​Cancer Group​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Walter​ ​Reed​ ​National​ ​Military​ ​Medical​ ​Center​ ​where​ ​I​ ​receive​ ​my​ ​treatment.​ ​​ ​This​ ​group​ ​has truly​ ​helped​ ​me​ ​regain​ ​control​ ​of​ ​how​ ​I​ ​live​ ​my​ ​life,​ ​and​ ​I​ ​am​ ​living​ ​it​ ​to​ ​the​ ​fullest. 

CHALLENGE:

Over 72,000 young adults are diagnosed with cancer every year. Young adults (ages 15-39) face a variety of unique challenges with a cancer diagnosis including fertility preservation, social isolation, lack of insurance, delayed diagnosis, and more. 

SOLUTION:

Ulman Foundation changes lives by creating a community of support for young adults, and their loved ones, impacted by cancer. With your support, Ulman is able to provide free support services and resources for the young adult cancer community including:

Cancer to 5K - a 12-week training program designed to introduce or reintroduce cancer survivors to physical activity.

Patient Navigation - a free program (onsite at cancer centers and remotely through our office) that ensures no young adult ever faces cancer alone. We provide one-on-one support & resources to young adults and their families to help them manage the cancer experience and long-term cancer survival.

Scholarships - a financial assistance program to help young adults continue their education after being affected by cancer through their own diagnosis or the diagnosis of a loved one.

Ulman House - This year Ulman will open a “home away from home” to provide free housing for young adult cancer patients, and their caregivers, in East Baltimore. 

Your donation will help make these programs and our mission possible!