General Cancer Support Groups

Support groups are offered to provide a venue for people living with cancer, cancer survivors, and their family and friends to share their stories, concerns, and celebrations. They can also be a helpful way to find support and get answers.

While some groups focus on one kind of cancer, the list below offers information and links to organizations that offer support and services for people with any type of cancer. Some groups are open to everyone or just for people of a certain age or sex. For example, some groups listed below are just for care partners or young adults with cancer. Even though a lot of people receive support from friends and family, finding a support group that is right for you can improve both your quality of life, provide a place where you can be honest and open about how you feel, and help you feel like you’re not alone.

4th Angel Mentoring Program

This program provides free, one-on-one, confidential telephone support for people with cancer and their caregivers. Trained mentors who are cancer survivors or have been a caregiver to a person with cancer offer support and guidance during a difficult time.

American Cancer Society’s Cancer Survivors Network

This online community is by and for people with cancer and their families. Find and connect with others through their member search, discussion boards, chat rooms, and private CSN e-mail. Create your own personal space to tell others about yourself, share photos, audio, etc, start an online journal (blog), contribute resources, and more.

American Childhood Cancer Organization

ACCO’s support community connects patients, families, friends and caregivers for support and inspiration. This community is sponsored by the American Childhood Cancer Organization, an Inspire trusted partner. Join their online community on Inspire.

Cancer Connect

This group combines current cancer treatment news and educational content with a moderated social community for patients and caregivers. Cancer Connect is used by leading cancer centers, allowing patients to interact with others receiving treatment at those centers and creating a unique destination to seek information, support, and inspiration.

Cancer Experience Registry

A program of The Cancer Support Community®, a nonprofit organization that provides personalized and essential services to those living with cancer and their caregivers including support groups, educational workshops, exercise, art and nutrition classes and social activities. The Cancer Experience Registry is a place where the individual and collective voices of people impacted by cancer can be heard and measured.

Cancer Support Community

As the largest professionally led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, the Cancer Support Community (CSC) is dedicated to ensuring that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. Connect with others by participating in the Living Room discussion boards. These boards are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and cover a variety of topics. Receive advice, support, and offer tips to other people going through similar cancer experiences.

CancerCare®

Founded in 1944, CancerCare® is a leading national organization providing free, professional support services and information to help people manage the emotional, practical, and financial challenges of cancer. Online support groups take place using a password-protected message board format (not live chat) and are led by professional oncology social workers who offer support and guidance. They offer support groups by cancer type as well.

Caregiver Action Network

The Caregiver Action Network is the nation’s leading family caregiver organization working to improve the quality of life for the more than 90 million Americans who care for loved ones with chronic conditions, disabilities, disease, or the frailties of old age. They offer multiple discussion forums.

Chemo Angels

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.

Family Caregiver Alliance

Provides information and services to family caregivers, including assessment, care planning, direct care skills, wellness programs, respite services and legal or financial consultation vouchers.

Hope For Two… The Pregnant With Cancer Network

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.

Inspire

Inspire was created to offer a safe place to discuss health. By helping each other, Inspire believes we are better. Browse their extensive list of online communities for a safe place for patients and caregivers to support and connect with one another.

Know Cancer

Know Cancer is dedicated to connecting, educating, and empowering all people affected by the many forms of cancer. Join their cancer community, a feature rich social network with a personal journal and media gallery, the Know Cancer blog, and an “Ask the Expert” section.

Latinas Contra Cancer

This organization is raising awareness about cancer in the Latino community, increasing access to quality care, working to decrease mortality, and improving the quality of the health care experience. They do this by offering support services and resources for the Latino cancer patient and their family; collaborate with other small agencies to provide education and outreach services; and partner with health care institutions to bridge the gap through culturally competent outreach and medical care.

National LGBT Cancer Network

This group seeks to improve the lives of LGBT cancer patients and survivors through community education, healthcare professional training, and advocacy. Many LGBTQI+ individuals who have and have survived cancer do not feel welcome or understood in mainstream support groups. This group is currently running cancer peer-support groups that you can join in their online forums.

Navigating Care

Navigating Care’s mission is to empower cancer survivors and healthcare professionals to improve the quality and efficiency of care. Join the discussion with one of their many cancer and blood disorder support groups.

Rare Cancer Alliance

RCA’s primary purpose is to disseminate information and provide support to all children and adults with rare forms of cancer. You may choose to join one of their many online support groups where you will find a safe environment for sharing information and mutual support. With a focus on rare cancers, this forum is less active than other communities but could offer unique support if you or a loved one are dealing with an uncommon cancer.

Smart Patients

This online community where patients and families affected by a variety of illnesses can learn from each other about treatments, challenges, and how it all fits into the context of their experience. The bile duct cancer community is a peer-to-peer online support group where patients and their families share their experiences and research the latest medical science for their condition.

The Samfund

The Samfund provides support for young adult cancer survivors in the United States as they recover from the financial impact of cancer treatment, as well as a list of recommended support groups.

Young Survival Coalition

This group helps young women with breast cancer stand strong against the many unique challenges that this group faces. They provide information, resources, and support from diagnosis through long-term survivorship and educate and empower young women to be their own best health advocate. Communicate with others in their online forums, video support group, or private Facebook group that has nearly 48,000 followers.