Empowering a generation to thrive

by Young Adult Cancer Canada

Cancer is a challenge at any age, but for young adults, it often feels like a particularly isolating experience. Facing cancer at a time is tough, but there are added layers of complexity when doing it while your peers are focused on school, building careers, or starting families. You’re navigating treatment, recovery, and the emotional toll of it all, while feeling like no one truly gets what you're going through. That’s where Young Adult Cancer Canada (YACC) comes in. YACC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people diagnosed with cancer before the age of 40, offering support, inspiration, and connection to help people living with, through, and beyond their diagnoses.

How YACC got its start

Young Adult Cancer Canada was founded in 2000 by Geoff Eaton after he recognized a gap in the cancer care system following his own diagnosis. Young adults, typically aged 18 to 39, often fall into an awkward limbo. They're too old for pediatric cancer programs, but they're also too young for most services aimed at older adults. This leaves many feeling overlooked, unsupported, and isolated. YACC was born out of the need to create a space where people could find both practical and emotional support to overcome challenges like finishing school, starting a career, family planning, navigating relationships, planning for the future, and facing the end of your life when you are just getting started.

YACC’s

Programming

After covering some ground with successful awareness campaigns, Eaton helped shape an online hub where young adults diagnosed with cancer could share their stories, ask questions, and connect with others who were going through the same things.

As the organization grew, it took this connection to the next level with its four-day Retreat Yourself program, and then a Survivor Conference, social activity-based groups in eight cities across Canada under the banner of Localife, Retreat Yourself Adventure, and more!

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, YACC was forced to find ways to stay connected in the face of travel restrictions and a population with especially compromised immune systems. This led to the first virtual Survivor Conference, recurring informal YACC Chats where people discuss a cancer-related theme, a multi-week creative program called Writing It Out!, and closed group Support Groups.

As of 2025, YACC is dedicated to offering an evolving smorgasbord of programs that offer varying levels of connection, information, and commitment, inviting members to find the best fit for them via its web-based, virtual, and face-to-face programs.

Empowering a generation to thrive cont'd

The emotional support found through the YACC community is invaluable, providing the camaraderie and hope that are often hard to come by during a cancer diagnosis. Whether you're newly diagnosed or a survivor, being part of a community where everyone “gets it” can make all the difference.

Ways to get involved

YACC relies on support from the community to fund its vital programs and outreach efforts. Whether you’re directly affected by cancer or simply want to make a difference, there are several ways to get involved and support YACC’s mission.

Volunteer

Volunteering with YACC is an impactful way to contribute your time and energy to this important cause. Whether you're helping organize events, providing administrative support, or connecting with the YACC community, your involvement can make a real difference. Volunteering also gives you the opportunity to meet others who share your passion for supporting young adults with cancer. Fundraise

As a non-profit, YACC depends heavily on fundraising to keep its programs running. You can support the organization by participating in events like Shave for the Brave, the Climb, or online campaigns. Every dollar raised helps fund essential programs like the Retreat Yourself events and peer support services. You can also make a direct donation to YACC to ensure these programs continue to thrive.

Share your story

If you have lived experience as a young adult with cancer, YACC encourages you to share your story. Personal stories are powerful tools for raising awareness and providing emotional support to others who are facing similar challenges. Whether through YACC's website, social media channels, the Recover Study research project, or directly within the community, sharing your experience can help others feel less isolated and more empowered to seek help.

Raise awareness

One of the most important ways to get involved is by raising awareness about the unique needs of young adults with cancer. Whether through social media, school events, or community outreach, sharing information about the challenges young adults face can help drive change. YACC provides various advocacy tools to make it easier for you to spread the word and increase support for this often-overlooked group.

Why YACC matters

Young Adult Cancer Canada is more than just a support organization—it's a movement aimed at ensuring that young adults with cancer don't have to face their diagnosis alone. Through community-driven programs and initiatives, YACC helps individuals not only survive but thrive. Whether you’re personally impacted by cancer or looking for ways to give back, YACC offers a welcoming space for anyone who wants to make a difference.

Together, we can ensure that no young adult has to navigate cancer without the support, resources, and community they deserve. By getting involved, sharing your story, or simply raising awareness, you can help make sure that every young adult impacted by cancer knows they’re not alone.

Visit youngadultcancer.ca to learn more!

Young Adult Cancer Canada

The YACC team is made up of 10 passionate individuals across Canada. Most of the team works out of the headquarters in St. John’s, NL, with the goal of helping young adults live with, through, and beyond cancer.