Sometimes the best support for cancer patients and caregivers is just talking with someone else who has been in your shoes.
Peer-to-peer support is a mutually empowering experience; an experience which also enhances the ability to cope with the diagnosis and subsequent treatment, improves perceived sense of control, and develops self-management skills. Peer support can be more effective when participants connect with someone who has similar demographics, case details, and life experiences; someone in whom each peer can see a reflection of themselves. Their shared commonalities enhance the benefits both received and given through peer support.
CCRAN's "My Cancer Companion" program will match consenting peers according to:
· Disease stage and biomarker status
· Age, gender, marital status, and demographics
· Ethnicity
· Sexual orientation
· Treatment journey
· Geographical location
· And so much more…
We will get a little personal in the questions below – each patient is unique, and obtaining more information will allow us to facilitate stronger connections. Our hope is that this program will help to ensure that no one feels alone as they navigate their colorectal cancer journey.
Disclaimer: The data being collected is provided voluntarily and will be used for the purposes of connecting consenting peers to other patients/caregiver that voluntarily register for the program. Information provided will be added to CCRAN's database and will be deleted from Survey Monkey monthly. Data provided may be anonymized and used for program evaluation and/or research purposes.
