Connecting with other young adults with breast cancer is an important aspect of life with cancer. Building your network of support may allow you to feel better about yourself, make new friends, improve your mood, cope better with your diagnosis, learn more about cancer, and better deal with the needs of others in your life.
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Below are a variety of supports that you can utilize to expand your support system. These supports are best suited for those with early stage breast cancer (stage 0-III).
As always, check Young and Strong’s Upcoming Events page for additional opportunities and updates. |
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DANA FARBER SUPPORTS
Young Adult Support Group Twice a year, the Young and Strong team provides the opportunity for young adults in our community to join a 6-week virtual support group. Facilitated by a breast oncology social worker, these weekly group sessions give young patients and survivors an opportunity to discuss topics relevant to young adults with breast cancer. This group is best suited to those who:
If you’re interested in registering for the next cohort, or would like more information about this group, please email youngandstrong@partners.org. |
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Facing Forward after Breast Cancer
This six-session support series is held twice yearly for breast cancer patients who have recently completed active treatment for early-stage (0-III) breast cancer. Each session will focus on a specific topic related to survivorship and maintaining a healthy lifestyle after cancer treatment. For more information, please email youngandstrong@partners.org. |
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One-to-One Program
One-to-One is a free telephone mentorship program for patients and caregivers at Dana-Farber. This program is designed to be a short-term resource, providing you with support from a volunteer peer mentor over the course of a few phone calls. Peer mentors are trained volunteers who have “been there” and can be great sources of support and comfort. When matched with a peer young adult mentor who had a similar early stage breast cancer diagnosis and/or similar treatment plan, they can:
To request a mentor who has gone through an early stage breast cancer diagnosis and treatment plan similar to yours, fill out a referral form. Please email onetoone@dfci.harvard.edu with any questions. |
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SoulMates Program
SoulMates is a long-term peer support program specifically for breast cancer patients (stages 0-III) at Dana-Farber. This program connects breast cancer patients to SoulMates peer mentors who have been through a similar journey. SoulMates peer mentors are trained in topics such as listening, problem solving, and confidentiality and offer emotional support, practical coping tips, and more. They can serve as a guide for patients and connect you with useful Dana-Farber programs and community resources. SoulMates peer mentors help to relieve fears and concerns specific to an early stage breast cancer diagnosis and treatment because they understand what it’s like to face cancer. SoulMates also hosts monthly community dinner meetings for peers and mentors to meet each other and hear from health care professional speakers around the greater Boston community. If you want to be matched up with a survivor, contact SoulMates at 617-237-0498 or email the Young and Strong Program team. |
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Young Adult Program
The Young Adult Program (YAP) at Dana-Farber provides emotional support services, opportunities to meet other young adults receiving treatment, and educational programs aimed at enhancing knowledge and self-advocacy skills. “Young adult” is loosely defined as anyone 18-39 years old. However, if you are out of this age range and consider yourself a young adult do not hesitate to contact YAP to see if their programs would be appropriate for you. YAP sponsors many programs that offer support to young adults facing any cancer diagnosis. Below are programs that may be of interest to you as a young adult diagnosed with breast cancer.
If you are interested in receiving email updates regarding events and workshops, please email yap@dfci.harvard.edu or contact the Young and Strong Program team. YAP has also introduced a new smartphone app, iaya, that aims to build community around coping skills for young adult patients at Dana-Farber. For more information and to obtain an access code, please contact YAP. |
EXTERNAL SUPPORTS
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Young Survival Coalition
The Young Survival Coalition (YSC) is an organization that strengthens the community, addresses the unique needs, amplifies the voice, and improves the quality of life of young adults affected by breast cancer, locally, nationally and internationally. YSC has support for “survivors” - any young adults diagnosed with breast cancer. They have communities for you to connect with others who share similar experiences and support each other.
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Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC)
Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) is a national nonprofit that connects breast cancer patients, survivors, and their loved ones with supportive programs and services. LBBC hosts conferences where you can connect with other breast cancer patients and survivors and be a part of specialized and interactive workshops. The Living Beyond Breast Cancer Conference: Sharing Wisdom, Sharing Strength event is an annual two-day conference that provides unique medical information for specific types of breast cancer and fosters a community of people from across the country that share your concerns. LBBC also has supportive resources online that connect you to breast cancer experts, advocates, and other patients through webcasts and webinars you can participate in via your phone, tablet, or computer. You can also access pre-recorded past webinars at any time. |
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Facing Cancer Together
Facing Cancer Together (FCT) is a community that promotes hope, empowerment, and connection for people with cancer and their loved ones. Located in Brighton, MA, this organization offers weekly cancer support groups for people living with a cancer diagnosis. In a warm, supportive, and safe community, explore the challenges of living with cancer and find ways to cope with multiple life changes and uncertainty. |
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Sharsheret
Sharsheret is a national non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of Jewish women and families living with or at an increased genetic risk for breast or ovarian cancer. Sharsheret offers the below supportive opportunities.
Sharsheret also provides additional resources and services including individual psychosocial support, genetic counseling, parenting support, financial assistance, nutrition support, side-effect support, and webinars. |
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Breasties
The Breasties is a community meant to empower those affected by breast and reproductive cancers by igniting strength and positivity. Through connection, free retreats, wellness activities, events, and an all-inclusive resourceful online community, the hope is to spread the message that whatever you are going through — you are not alone. The breasties is unlike other organizations, as it is for everyone — survivors, previvors, warriors, thrivers, carevivors and supporters. A topic-themed virtual meetup is planned each week. There are groups for newly diagnosed breasties, stage IV breasties and allies, BIPOC breasties, LBGTQ+ breasties and more. View the event calendar for more information. |