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3. At the bottom of the screen, you can choose to NOT give money to crowdrise.com.  CLICK "Optional processing fee", switch amount to zero, then submit it.
4. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!

It's NOT okay!! 70,000 young adults are diagnosed with cancer EVERY YEAR.

It's not okay that every 8 minutes, a young adult is diagnosed with cancer and every hour a young adult loses their battle to cancer.  Cancer is now the #1 disease killer in young adults.

I am 24 years old.  My entire life I have dreamed of becoming a doctor, so I worked hard in college to make it into medical school.  One amazing day I finally got the email- "Congratulations Sarah, you have been accepted into UAB School of Medicine."  My dream finally came true!!!  Last May (2011) I was in my first year of Medical School, and the end of the year was finally in sight!  I noticed something was just off about my health.  I had lost a ton of weight over the year and was unbelievably exhausted.  With only five weeks to go in the school year, I was diagnosed with Medullary Thyroid Cancer, it had already spread to lymph nodes in my neck.  While my classmates were finishing up the renal module, I had surgery- a total thyroidectomy and a central and left modified radical neck dissection.  MTC doesn't respond to radiation or chemotherapy.  People around me were so positive about my young age and great health going into the process, but no one truly understands or acknowledges what it must feel like to lose this time as a young adult.  I should have been enjoying the summer, sun, and our last break from school.  Instead I was dealing with hypothroidism, hair loss, and extreme fatigue.  But I couldn't give up, I had to fight, so I spent the entire summer making up all the school work I missed during treatment.  Although my friends and family have been extremely supportive, I have never felt so alone, having no one who truly understands what I am going through.

That is, until I discovered I'm Too Young For This, Cancer Foundation, the largest support community of young adult survivors and caregivers in the US.  Online at stupidcancer.com, they gave survivors like me a voice, a community, and hope.  They focus on the unique issues that I face as a young adult; issues like isolation, fertility, sexuality, dating, insurance, and more.

Their annual conference, OMG! Cancer Summit for Young Adults, is the premiere oncology conference and social networking event for the young adult cancer movement.  It brings together hundreds of survivors and caregivers for a one of a kind experience of healing, education, and community. 

Please spare whatever you can to help support my effort to make a difference for thousands of young adults affected by cancer.  Just $10 can make a huge difference!  No one should go through cancer alone.

Stupid cancer. Survivors rule.  Visit http://stupidcancer.com/.  

THANKS AND GOD BLESS ~ Sarah

“The OMG! Summit taught me to keep fighting, be my own advocate and never give up, no matter what the doctor says.”

“The OMG! Summit and the sheer enormity of our community has left me more inspired than ever."

“What an amazing, life-changing and inspiring weekend.”