Cancer Support Community's Peer Clinical Trials Support Program offers free support to Black and African American cancer patients and those at high risk of a cancer diagnosis (a previvor), who want to talk to a peer — a Black cancer patient or survivor who’s participated in a cancer clinical trial.
Through two phone calls, these one-on-one relationships inspire hope and offer you the chance to ask personal questions, discuss your concerns, and receive support from someone who is uniquely familiar with your experience. Peer Specialists listen to you, share what they’ve learned, and help you become empowered to make educated decisions about your health.
Whether you were just diagnosed, have been living with cancer for years, or have a family history of cancer and are at an increased risk, we have a Peer Specialist who can help.
About Peer Support
Peer support is when people use their own experience to help each other. There are different types of peer support, but they all aim to:
- Bring together people with shared experiences to learn and support each other.
- Provide a space where people feel understood and accepted.
- Walk the journey with a person, rather than tell the person what to do.
- Empower people to have a voice and be engaged in their health and wellbeing.
Peer support is not a new idea. It’s natural for us to seek out others who have been on a similar journey and can understand what we’re going through. Most of us seek support on our own from our peers, like friends, family, or coworkers, on a daily basis.
Formal peer support programs, like this one, are not new either. You might hear different names for peer support like peer mentoring, peer counseling, or mutual support groups. Peer support programs focus on many different topics, including mental health, recovery from substance use, or managing chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer. Some happen individually while others occur in groups. All are examples of peer support.
There are lots of benefits to joining a peer support program. Many people find peer support improves their well-being, helps them understand their health situation, and allows them to better cope with their emotions.
Talking to a peer — someone like you and who has had an experience like yours — can help you gain knowledge, open up about what you’re feeling, empower you to ask questions and explore your options, and reassure you that you’re not alone.
Program Mission
Our mission is to help Black cancer patients and previvors understand, access, and benefit from cancer clinical trials by providing one-on-one support from someone who’s been there.
Clinical trials are key to making progress against cancer, yet fewer than 1 in 20 adult cancer patients enroll in cancer clinical trials, and only 5% identify as Black or African American. Moreover, we know that African American cancer patients are less likely to be told about or offered a clinical trial as a treatment option compared to other groups.
At the Cancer Support Community, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to live safe and healthy lives — and be supported in their cancer experience. We believe clinical trials are an essential treatment option and everyone should have access to the high-quality care and advances that clinical trial participation provides.
We know that improving clinical trial awareness and knowledge and access to trusted social individuals can lead to increased clinical trial participation. We’re working to change the dialogue and empower Black cancer patients and previvors to become informed and engaged in their cancer and clinical trial experience.