Building Brighter Futures: How Teen Cancer America and
Alec Kupelian are Transforming Care for Young Adults
Alec playing Ultimate Frisbee
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When 19-year-old Alec Kupelian was diagnosed with a football-sized tumor, he couldn’t imagine a future beyond cancer. Ten years later, Alec leads programs at Teen Cancer America, helping hospitals nationwide better support young adults like him. His story – and the research powered by the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) – show how early investments in care and innovation are transforming survival into thriving.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALEC KUPELIAN
A young adult facing the unimaginable
It’s hard to imagine that a 19-year-old college athlete with a painful, protruding, football-sized tumor in his hip would wait two months to seek care – especially when his dad is an oncologist. And yet, that was Alec Kupelian’s reality. |
“I remember telling my college friends I knew what was going on because my dad was a cancer doctor,” Alec said. “But I was still hoping it would just get better. I didn’t want to lose the amazing life I had just started as a freshman.”
Alec was eventually diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma and began treatment at UCLA’s Young Adult and Adolescent (AYA) Cancer Center. Surrounded by peers his age and a team who understood what it meant to have life suddenly derailed, Alec endured 17 rounds of chemotherapy and a year of treatment – and survived.
But recovery was not simple.
Despite a supportive family, financial stability, and access to a specialized AYA program, Alec struggled when he returned to school. He turned to alcohol, failed classes, and attempted suicide three times.
“I’ve needed a lot of help realizing how cancer interferes with imagining a future – and how to work toward one,” he said. “It’s no coincidence that I now help other centers build programs that support young adults like me.”
Helping hospitals better support AYA patients
Today, Alec is the program operations and campaign analyst for Teen Cancer America (TCA), an organization improving cancer care for teens and young adults nationwide.
Much of his time is spent talking with oncologists, nurses, social workers, and hospital administrators about bridging the gap between pediatric and adult oncology.
Alec was eventually diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma and began treatment at UCLA’s Young Adult and Adolescent (AYA) Cancer Center. Surrounded by peers his age and a team who understood what it meant to have life suddenly derailed, Alec endured 17 rounds of chemotherapy and a year of treatment – and survived.
But recovery was not simple.
Despite a supportive family, financial stability, and access to a specialized AYA program, Alec struggled when he returned to school. He turned to alcohol, failed classes, and attempted suicide three times.
“I’ve needed a lot of help realizing how cancer interferes with imagining a future – and how to work toward one,” he said. “It’s no coincidence that I now help other centers build programs that support young adults like me.”
Helping hospitals better support AYA patients
Today, Alec is the program operations and campaign analyst for Teen Cancer America (TCA), an organization improving cancer care for teens and young adults nationwide.
Much of his time is spent talking with oncologists, nurses, social workers, and hospital administrators about bridging the gap between pediatric and adult oncology.
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“Talking to a 4-year-old with cancer is completely different from talking to a 14- or 24-year-old,” Alec explained. “When I was fighting cancer, life felt very black and white. It was hard to return to a world that’s all shades of gray.”
TCA often funds new AYA program positions for two to three years – a “seed investment” that allows hospitals to measure success and justify continued support. They also help sites add critical services like fertility preservation and financial counseling. “Ideally, every hospital would have comprehensive AYA programs,” Alec said. “But we never let perfection stand in the way of progress. Anything is better than nothing.” Charting a brighter future Now 31, Alec has built a new vision for his life – one defined by hope and purpose. “I didn’t realize it at the time, but so many of my post-treatment decisions were based on not believing the future was coming,” he said. |
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Today, he’s pursuing an MBA, celebrating his first wedding anniversary, and exploring IVF with his wife.
“Fifty years ago, people with my diagnosis died. Just ten years ago, many lost limbs. Thanks to research, I kept my leg – and even returned to playing high-level collegiate Ultimate Frisbee.”
The power of clinical trials
From his own treatment and his work, Alec has seen the value of clinical trials.
While a decade ago, he received 17 rounds of chemo over nearly a year, someone diagnosed today would have only 14 rounds – over as little as 28 weeks – thanks to COG research.
“Shorter treatment protocols are huge for any cancer patient. But they’re especially huge for younger people who have their whole lives ahead of them,” said Alec.
“Fifty years ago, people with my diagnosis died. Just ten years ago, many lost limbs. Thanks to research, I kept my leg – and even returned to playing high-level collegiate Ultimate Frisbee.”
The power of clinical trials
From his own treatment and his work, Alec has seen the value of clinical trials.
While a decade ago, he received 17 rounds of chemo over nearly a year, someone diagnosed today would have only 14 rounds – over as little as 28 weeks – thanks to COG research.
“Shorter treatment protocols are huge for any cancer patient. But they’re especially huge for younger people who have their whole lives ahead of them,” said Alec.
Alec and his wife
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They’re less financially draining, get young adults back in control of their lives faster, and reduce late effects like memory loss and neuropathy that impact quality of life.
Helping COG improve treatment TCA has always been in support of COG’s research efforts. And in 2023, the organization funded two Young Investigator awards. “There were two really strong candidates. In the end, we doubled our gift and contributed $50K to each, for a total of $100K,” Alec said. “We're hopeful we’ll continue supporting these awards annually.” One recipient, Alexandra Psihogios, MD, used the initial data from her project to secure a $5 million grant to further expand her research: An Influencer-driven Social Media Intervention for AYA Oral Chemotherapy Adherence: A Pilot Study. “Supporting young investigators is so exciting,” Alec said. “You see how a small investment can lead to enormous impact.” Working with COG to help young adults TCA and COG have long been early leaders in the AYA cancer space. Alec now serves on COG’s Patient Advocacy Committee, contributing his experience to research discussions. |
“Survivorship guidelines exist because of COG,” Alec said. “The standards of care they developed are so strong that many patients hesitate to leave pediatric programs.”
Recently, Alec’s input even influenced how investigators approached a new clinical trial.
“When I shared what AYAs think about before enrolling in a study, it changed how the committee voted on randomization,” he said. “That’s how progress happens – by listening to patients and tailoring care to their priorities.”
Alec’s story, and the work of TCA and COG, underscore a powerful truth: when donors invest early in research, programs, and people, they change what’s possible for the next generation of young adults facing cancer.
“Cancer isn’t like the flu,” Alec said. “It doesn’t just go away when the tumor is gone. But with the right support, the future can be bright and full of possibility.”
Recently, Alec’s input even influenced how investigators approached a new clinical trial.
“When I shared what AYAs think about before enrolling in a study, it changed how the committee voted on randomization,” he said. “That’s how progress happens – by listening to patients and tailoring care to their priorities.”
Alec’s story, and the work of TCA and COG, underscore a powerful truth: when donors invest early in research, programs, and people, they change what’s possible for the next generation of young adults facing cancer.
“Cancer isn’t like the flu,” Alec said. “It doesn’t just go away when the tumor is gone. But with the right support, the future can be bright and full of possibility.”