When adolescents and young adults (AYA) are diagnosed with cancer, the emotional and mental impact can be just as overwhelming as the physical journey. Between navigating treatment, relationships, identity, and the fear of missing out on major life milestones, AYA patients often feel misunderstood or invisible.

That’s where Elephants and Tea comes in.

Founded by a cancer family for the AYA community, Elephants and Tea is the only magazine in the country written entirely by and for young adults affected by cancer. Their mission is powerful: to help young people with cancer know they are not alone in their experience.

The name Elephants and Tea represents two ideas central to the cancer experience: the “elephant in the room” that no one wants to talk about—cancer—and the comforting conversations that happen over a cup of tea. The organization gives AYA patients, survivors, and caregivers the space to talk openly about the complex, and sometimes uncomfortable, truths of living with and beyond cancer.

By providing a platform for self-expression, Elephants and Tea allows young people to process their journey through writing, art, and connection.

What They Offer

Elephants and Tea goes beyond being a magazine. It’s a community-driven resource hub that fosters healing through vulnerability and shared experience. Their offerings include:

• Quarterly Magazine
  Available in print and online, each issue focuses on a central theme—such as body image, mental health, survivorship, or identity—and features essays, poetry, and art from the AYA community.

• Writing Workshops
  Themed and guided workshops allow participants to explore their experience in a safe, supportive space with others who understand what it’s like to be young and living with cancer.

• Webinars and Events
  Elephants and Tea hosts regular virtual events that combine storytelling, peer support, and educational content to help young adults navigate survivorship with clarity and confidence.

• The Sip Newsletter
  A weekly newsletter offering fresh stories, prompts, and community updates directly to subscribers’ inboxes.

This open and accessible approach creates a sense of belonging, something many young adults desperately need during and after cancer.

By encouraging personal storytelling, Elephants and Tea helps destigmatize the emotional realities of cancer. Writing about fear, anger, resilience, and hope gives young adults a powerful sense of agency and control—something cancer often strips away.

And just as importantly, it helps readers who aren’t ready to share their own stories feel seen and validated through the words of others.

At Byrd Cancer Education and Advocacy Foundation, we know that healing extends beyond treatment. That’s why we refer AYA patients and survivors to trusted partners like Elephants and Tea as part of our Cancer Connect Program. These creative and emotional outlets provide the kind of support that clinical care cannot always offer—space to process, reflect, and connect.

We believe that every voice deserves to be heard. Through partnerships with organizations like Elephants and Tea, we help ensure that no one has to face the cancer journey alone—or in silence.

To learn more about Elephants and Tea, visit:
www.elephantsandtea.org

Looking for emotional support or AYA-centered resources?
Contact Byrd Cancer Foundation today and let our Cancer Connect team guide you toward the support that’s right for you.