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YACC Support Groups are a meaningful way to connect with people who “get it” and build community. Facilitated by peers with advanced mental health knowledge over Zoom, participants sign up and commit to getting together weekly for eight weeks in order to deepen connections and build on the conversation.

More details

Program Details

YACC Support groups bring together groups of about ten people every week for eight weeks to explore different themes of the young adult cancer experience. The virtual sessions are professionally facilitated by a peer with advanced mental health training via Zoom. Groups are available for the following communities: (a) For those newly diagnosed or in active treatment (b) For those post-treatment/in survivorship* care (c) For those with metastatic or advanced diagnoses *When describing this criterion, we know that "survivorship" can be a controversial concept and word. At YACC, we believe everyone is a survivor from the first time you hear you have cancer. We also recognize that more commonly this word is used to describe people who are no longer requiring active cancer care or palliative care services.

Register now!

Newly diagnosed group
Next session starts April 9, 2025

Survivorship group
Next session starts April 9, 2025

Advanced and metastatic group
Next session starts April 7, 2025

Spaces are limited. Register today!

Newly Diagnosed or In Active Treatment

Who is this group for?

  • You have been diagnosed or re-diagnosed within the past three years (roughly 2021 to now).
  • You are in active disease management care, such as receiving chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, or other therapies (pursuing non-biomedical treatments, etc.)

This group can be repeated, but priority will be given to community members who have not had the opportunity to experience this program previously.

Themes

1. Welcome and introductions
2. Your physical wellbeing
3. Your home and people
4. Your school and work
5. Your social world
6. Your mental health
7. Your identity, beliefs, and values
8. Your plan for stressors, strengths and supports, and group ending

Dates for 2025

SPRING 2025

Wednesdays from April 9-May 28
7-8:30 p.m. ET

Post-Treatment/
Survivorship

Who is this group for?

  •  You have been diagnosed or re-diagnosed within the past 10 years.
  • You may have been told that your cancer is in remission or has been cured, or that you are in survivorship
  • You are not currently in active disease management, but could still be pursuing medication management (like Tamoxifen), surgical care, or rehabilitation care. You may also be screening for cancer recurrence through things like blood tests, imaging, scopes, and more.

This group can be repeated, but priority will be given to community members who have not had the opportunity to experience this program previously.

Themes

1. Welcome and introductions
2. Recovering your physical body
3. Healing your emotional wounds
4. Renewing your social life
5. Considerations for work and school
6. Recalibrating our closest connections
7. Making meaning from trauma and building a changed life
8. Your plan for survivorship, and group ending

Dates for 2025

SPRING 2025

Wednesdays from April 9 -May 28
9-10:30 p.m. ET

Advanced & Metastatic

Who is this group for?

  •  You are living with a cancer diagnosis that is metastatic (often stage or grade four) or with a chronic or aggressive cancer where active treatment is focused on the management of cancer rather than cure**.
  • You may be exploring new or experimental treatments, you may have chosen to stop treatment of cancer, or you may be working with a palliative care team to support your quality of life.

This group can be repeated, but priority will be given to community members who have not had the opportunity to experience this program previously.

Themes

1. Welcome and introductions
2. Your physical wellbeing
3. Your home and people
4. Your school and work
5. Your social world
6. Your mental health
7. Your identity, beliefs, and values
8. Your plan for stressors, strengths and supports, and group ending

Dates for 2025

SPRING 2025

Mondays from April 7-June 2
5-7:30 p.m. ET

No session on May 19

(Participants must commit to one group and cannot mix and match days.)

Who is this event for?
People diagnosed with cancer before the age of 40 and currently between 18-39.

How to attend the event
We will connect with those who register with the link to access the event.

Questions? Email [email protected]

Guest Speakers

Dani

Dani

Dani (she/her) is curious and reflective. She lives with Lynch syndrome and was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer at age 23, which was successfully treated through chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Dani initially connected with YACC in 2015 at Retreat Yourself Ontario, and has been involved in many areas of the organization, currently working as the Manager of Programs and Partnerships.

Since her diagnosis, Dani has trained as a social worker with York University and the University of Toronto, and has provided oncology and palliative social work care with Gilda’s Club Greater Toronto, The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and Sunnybrook Health Science Centre.

She is passionate about facilitating spaces that are open, dynamic, and that build lasting community connections. Dani recognizes the isolation that is felt by many experiencing a young adult cancer and believes that YACC is an essential part of holistic cancer care.

Jill

Jill

Jill (she/her) is a thoughtful, adventurous, and resourceful young adult cancer survivor.

In 2016, Jill was diagnosed with Stage 2BX Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at the age of 18. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation, ultimately reaching remission.

Jill recently joined YACC in 2022 while looking to give back to and connect with the cancer community. As Jill found connecting with others with lived experience was important to her own healing, Jill is excited to facilitate safe, inclusive, and open spaces where these connections can happen.

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