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One on One Connections

Hearing the words, “you have cancer” is devastating, and even though many people receive love and support from friends and family during this time, sometimes you just need to talk to someone who’s “been there.” One-on-one support groups can offer personalized support from a professional social worker, trained cancer survivor, or healthcare professional. The list below offers information and links to many organizations that offer “buddy programs” that match you with a survivor of the same type of cancer who has faced the same issues you are facing.

American Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery

Breast Cancer
One-On-One

This program connects people facing breast cancer, from diagnosis through survivorship, with trained volunteers who are breast cancer survivors. Through their website and app, you can create an online profile and match with a volunteer who has experienced a similar type of breast cancer, stage, and treatment. Volunteers do not provide medical advice. This is a free program.

Cancer Hope Network

One-On-One

The network has been providing one-on-one peer support for cancer patients and their loved ones for 40 years. With nearly 500 trained survivor and caregiver volunteers who’ve faced more than 80 types and sub types of cancer, they provide connection and hope. Matches – the connection between a client and a volunteer – are based on a shared diagnosis, similar treatments or shared life experiences. Their Programs Team is made up of social work and healthcare professionals who follow each match from beginning to end, providing oversight, resources, and support through the duration of each connection.

Chemo Angels

Chemotherapy
One-On-One
The Chemo Angels program offers support to those facing a cancer diagnosis and undergoing IV chemo treatment. The angel volunteers support their “buddy” throughout their journey with weekly cards and uplifting messages to aid in the road to recovery.

Colorectal Cancer Alliance Buddy Program

Colorectal (Colon) Cancer
One-On-One

This group matches a survivor with a person with colorectal cancer. In addition to receiving emotional support, people with cancer learn about treatment, side effects, and other important issues. The program’s certified Patient & Family Support Navigators connect you with a vetted Buddy who has been through a similar diagnosis to offer meaningful and useful advice that helped them get through colorectal cancer.

Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE)

Ovarian Cancer
Breast Cancer
One-On-One

FORCE's mission is to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by hereditary breast, ovarian, and related cancers. Visit their message boards to meet and discuss your situation with other people who have faced similar hereditary cancer concerns.

Friend for Life Cancer Support Network

One-On-One

This network of cancer survivors and caregivers provide compassionate, one-on-one support to others diagnosed with cancer and their loved ones. At your request, Friend for Life will match you with a trained volunteer who has experienced a form of cancer and/or course of treatment similar to yours.

Hope for Two... The Pregnant with Cancer Network

Pregnant with Cancer
One-On-One
This network offers free support for women diagnosed with cancer while pregnant. They connect women who are currently pregnant with cancer with other women who have experienced a similar cancer diagnosis while they were pregnant.

Imerman Angels

One-On-One

Imerman Angels’ mission is to provide comfort and understanding for all cancer fighters, survivors, previvors and caregivers through a personalized, one-on-one connection with someone who has been there. This group matches a person with cancer with a “Mentor Angel” who is someone who has completed treatment for the same type of cancer and is walking, talking, living proof, and inspiration that cancer can be beaten. The program also matches caregivers and is free and helps anyone touched by any type of cancer, at any cancer stage level, at any age, living anywhere in the world.

Lung Cancer Alliance Phone Buddy Program

One-On-One

This program matches people living with lung cancer with volunteers who have completed or are going through lung cancer treatment. Caregivers and family members also can be matched with a buddy who is coping with a similar situation.

National Cancer Information Center

One-On-One

A program of the American Cancer Society that provides information and support to those facing cancer 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Trained cancer information specialists are available via one-on-one phone, live chat, and video chat, providing accurate, up to date cancer information to patients, family members, and caregivers and connecting them with valuable services and resources in their communities.

Young Survival Coalition SurvivorLink

One-On-One
This group allows young women with breast cancer to connect with fellow patients and survivors who volunteer in this program. SurvivorLink matches women based on specific concerns and issues, such as mastectomy and breast reconstruction, cultural issues, advanced disease, and family risk of breast cancer.