While confronting the shock and uncertainty of Stage IV prostate cancer, John Antonucci found guidance and comradeship in support groups at AnCan, formerly Answer Cancer. Today, the retired doctor leads such groups. Doing this, he says in our Can Heal interview, “helps me with my own coping and acceptance, both by being among other men with life-threatening illnesses and by helping others.”

Paying it forward is a common theme in our summer 2026 issue. The seventh annual Cancer Health 25 list highlights financial helpers and fundraisers. These individuals help others navigate the economic challenges that often accompany a cancer diagnosis. Turn here to learn more—and to discover possible avenues of financial assistance. 

Trent Straube

Trent Straube, editor-in-chief, Cancer HealthJohnnie Cuellar

Our cover subject, Carolyn Shay, who lives with multiple myeloma, knows financial toxicity firsthand. The retired counselor from Connecticut shares how grants from the HealthWell Foundation helped pay for her lifesaving medications. 

Other advocates offer different lifelines. Joanna Fawzy Doran, a cancer rights attorney and CEO of Triage Cancer (Your Team), provides free education on the legal issues concerning cancer, which often involve insurance, finances and bills. Metastatic stomach cancer survivor Javier Florez (Diary) helps others feel connected and hopeful. And testicular cancer survivor Kyle DeLeon (Voices) works as an advocacy operations manager at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, where he creates a welcoming environment for everyone.

 

As always, our issue also rounds up the latest in News and Care & Treatment, including timely sunscreen warnings, important phone numbers you can call for support and a roundup of promising research data about pancreatic cancer.

 

Thank you for reading. We’ll close with another quote from Antonucci, the AnCan discussion group leader: “There are some precious gems scattered among the wreckage of cancer. Love, marriage, family, beauty, serenity, spirituality, friendships, the present moment and especially gratitude become the foci of life.”