This Thing Called Poetry

This collection presents the voices of adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer – part of a cohort of some 70,000 young people between the ages of 15 and 39 who are diagnosed with cancer each year. Navigating cancer includes addressing human needs that become suddenly more pronounced for this age group: the loss of independence and a sense of immortality, the need for deepening relationships in a time of uncertain future, the anger, frustration and even humor involved in adjusting to a new body and a new story, and especially an intensified awareness of what is beautiful and valued in human life. This collection brings together established poets and new poetic voices to explore the wide range of emotional, imaginative and spiritual experience that the AYA cancer journey involves. It is offered as a resource for patients, families and survivors in the hope that it will deepen the sense of understanding and even community among AYA survivors, their loved ones and medical providers.