Planet Cancer

Overview

Planet Cancer is an irreverent, dynamic community of peer support for young adults with cancer in their 20s and 30s. We connect young adults with each other and advocate for them in the medical community, in order that their unique issues and needs will be recognized and addressed.

Mission

Driving dialogue, young adults treated with own medical discipline, at the time a young adults is diagnosed with cancer, they have immediate access to support.

Program

Planet Cancer works on behalf of young adults through three main program areas:

Online support: The Planet Cancer website provides a fresh and irreverent voice for young adults with cancer, offering entertainment and a young adult information clearinghouse, as well as a thriving online community of peer support comprised of young adults from all over the world.

Face to face support: Our weekend retreat programs brings together young adults for recreation and personal exploration, helping them forge connections that will sustain them as they move on with their lives, in or out of treatment. We offer programs for 18- to 25-year-olds, 25- to 40-year-olds and, in 2007, will pilot the country’s first young couples retreat.

Advocacy and awareness: We raise awareness from the doctor's office to the National Cancer Institute about the unique needs and issues of young adults. Planet Cancer is also a founding member and leader of the LiveSTRONG Young Adult Alliance, a national coalition of organizations dedicated to improving quality of life and survival rates for young adults with cancer.

Impact

We have served hundreds of kids through retreats and average 5000 unique visitors per month to our website. Additionally, we have eached doctors, nurses, and social workers.

Countries of Operation

United States