Jennifer Bires Shared Powerful Insights from 2025 Stupid Cancer’s Gathering
Jennifer Bires, Executive Director at Inova Schar Cancer Institute, shared a post on LinkedIn:
”We need to do better. Period.
That was the overwhelming feeling I walked away with after speaking as a panelist at CancerCon this past weekend — Stupid Cancer’s annual gathering for young adults impacted by cancer.
Alongside Mike Scherer from Worth the Wait Charity and Lauren Martino, we had the privilege of holding a session on fertility — and the room was filled with raw, honest emotion.
Participants opened up about impossible decisions — ones they’ve already made, and others still looming.
They shared their fears, asked vulnerable, thoughtful questions, and they supported one another. They revealed just how often they’ve had to navigate these massive life decisions — alone.
Because in our current healthcare system, too many young adult patients and their partners are still left to:
- Search the internet for answers
- Cobble together a fertility care team
- Manage complex emotions without support
Thankfully, organizations like Worth The Wait and Stupid Cancer exist to meet people where they are. It’s time for systemic change — in policy, payor coverage, and how we deliver actual fertility support for young adults with cancer.
Other members of the Inova Health Peterson Life with Cancer team also showed up in full force to hold space and build connection in other areas:
- Jane Woo and Alyssa Goggan led an incredible breakout on Art Therapy
- Darah Curran and Lindsey Wamsley facilitated a session on Body Image and a powerful dialogue for Metastatic and Chronic patients
- Melanie Michaud generously volunteered her time as an onsite counselor.”
More posts featuring Jennifer Bires.
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Challenging the Status Quo in Colorectal Cancer 2024
December 6-8, 2024
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ESMO 2024 Congress
September 13-17, 2024
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ASCO Annual Meeting
May 30 - June 4, 2024
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Yvonne Award 2024
May 31, 2024
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OncoThon 2024, Online
Feb. 15, 2024
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Global Summit on War & Cancer 2023, Online
Dec. 14-16, 2023