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Young Adult Cancer Resources

At Cactus Cancer Society, we believe healing can be creative, communal, and uniquely your own. Cancer doesn’t just interrupt life; it reshapes routines, identity, and day-to-day flow. You don’t have to face it alone. Below is a directory of programs, nonprofits, and communities that support adolescents and young adults impacted by cancer. Bookmark this page and return whenever you need a little extra support.

  • Athletes 4 Cancer – Outdoor surf and adventure camps for young people impacted by cancer. Free | In-person

  • Base2Summit (Cassie Hines Shoes Cancer Foundation) – Free weeklong Michigan adventure retreat. Free | In-person

  • Camp Mak-A-Dream – Montana-based free camp for AYAs. Free | In-person

  • Epic Experience – Adventure camps in the Rockies + virtual fitness programs. Free | In-person/Virtual

  • First Descents – Outdoor adventure programs for young adults impacted by cancer or serious illness. Free | In-person

  • Project Koru – Surf + outdoor healing programs for survivors and caregivers. Free | In-person

  • Reel Recovery – Fly-fishing retreats for men living with cancer. Free | In-person

  • Send It Foundation – Surf, ski, and bike adventures for survivors. Free | In-person

  • True North Treks – Backpacking, canoeing, and mindfulness-based wilderness retreats. Free | In-person

  • Ulman Foundation – Young adult-focused retreats, camps, and community-based experiences. Free | In-person/Virtual

  • Young Adult Cancer Canada (YACC) – AYA retreats, camps, and community-based adventure experiences in Canada. Free | In-person

  • Abridge – Record and transcribe medical visits, generate shareable visit notes. Free/Paid | Digital

  • CancerBuddy – Peer support app connecting patients, survivors, and caregivers. Free | Digital

  • Caregather – Online hub to coordinate meals, care tasks, and updates. Free | Digital

  • CaringBridge – Free private health journal to share updates with loved ones. Free | Digital

  • ConnectMyVariant – Genetic family connection and hereditary cancer tools. Free | Digital

  • Give InKind – Wishlists, fundraising, and gift coordination platform. Free/Low cost | Digital

  • Jasper – Organize schedules, needs, and care tasks in one place. Free/Paid | Digital

  • Lotsa Helping Hands – Coordinate meals, volunteers, and caregiving tasks. Free | Digital

  • Meal Train – Meal scheduling and support coordination for patients and families. Free/Low cost | Digital

  • MyLifeLine (Cancer Support Community) – Private support websites and care coordination tools for people impacted by cancer. Free | Digital

  • PatientsLikeMe – Share health experiences and track data with others living with similar conditions. Free | Digital

  • We Got This – Create a gift registry specifically for cancer patients. Free | Digital

  • CancerCare: Caregiver Support – Free professional counseling, support groups, and practical assistance for cancer caregivers. Call 800-813-HOPE (4673). Free | Virtual

  • Caregiver Action Network – National Help Desk staffed by caregiving experts who assist with navigating complex caregiving challenges. Call 855-227-3640. Free | Virtual

  • Family Caregiver Alliance – Education, advocacy, and support groups focused on caregiver resilience and well-being. Free | Virtual

  • The Dinner Party: Caregivers Table – Peer community for 20- and 30-somethings navigating grief and caregiving. Free | Virtual

  • The Negative Space – Coaching, support groups, podcasts, and resources reshaping how caregivers are supported and seen. Free/Paid | Virtual

  • Well Spouse Association – Peer-led support groups for partners and spouses of individuals living with chronic illness or cancer. Free | Virtual

  • Hearts Need Art – Art, music, and writing for healing. Free | Virtual/In-person

  • Hello Gorgeous! – Complimentary makeovers and makeup education for women battling cancer. Free | Virtual/In-person

  • Lipstick Angels – Beauty and wellness services at hospital bedside or virtual sessions for cancer patients. Free | Virtual/In-person

  • Living Beauty Cancer Foundation – Supports holistic wellness for women with cancer, with a focus on beauty and self-care. Free | Virtual/In-person

  • Look Good Feel Better – Beauty and confidence workshops for people undergoing cancer treatment. Free | Virtual/In-person

  • Onco-Ballet Foundation – Ballet-based movement programs supporting body confidence and strength after cancer. Low cost | In-person

  • Smith Center for Healing and the Arts – Mind-body programs and creative expression experiences for people impacted by cancer. Low cost | Virtual/In-person

  • Survivor Friendly Foundation – Provides free beauty-essential bags and builds community around beauty and support. Free | Virtual/In-person

  • Yoga4Cancer (y4c) – Evidence-based oncology yoga tailored for people impacted by cancer. Sliding | Virtual/In-person

Crisis & Immediate Emotional Support

Sometimes you just need someone to talk to, right now.

  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — 988lifeline.org | Call or text 988
    24/7 national line for anyone in emotional distress.

  • American Cancer Society Helpline — cancer.org | 800-227-2345
    Provides answers, resources, rides to treatment, and emotional support.

  • Cancer Support Community Helpline — cancersupportcommunity.org | 888-793-9355 24/7 oncology-trained professionals offering mental health and resource support.

  • Crisis Text Line — crisistextline.org | Text HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 text-based support with trained crisis counselors.

  • Lifeline Chat — 988lifeline.org/chat Confidential online chat support for those in crisis.

  • Warmlines Directory — warmline.org Peer-run, non-crisis phone lines across the U.S. for connection without escalation.

 

General Mental Health Resources

Finding a therapist or mental health space that feels like a fit can make all the difference. 

  • Asian Mental Health Collective — asianmhc.org: Directory of thousands of Asian therapists in the U.S. and Canada, plus community initiatives to reduce stigma.

  • Give An Hour — giveanhour.org Free counseling and peer groups for veterans, survivors of violence, and those facing rare illnesses.

  • HeadsUpGuys — headsupguys.org Resource for men’s mental health with self-check tools, recovery stories, therapist directory, and stigma-busting content.

  • Inclusive Therapists — inclusivetherapists.com Directory centering BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and marginalized communities with affirming, culturally responsive providers.

  • NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) — nami.org Education, helplines, support groups, and advocacy for individuals and families impacted by mental health conditions.

  • Neurodivergent Therapists Collective — neurodivergenttherapists.com Collective and directory centering therapists who identify as neurodivergent and/or specialize in neurodiverse-affirming care.

  • Open Path Collective — openpathcollective.org Connects people with therapists offering sliding scale rates, often $40–$70 per session.

  • Psychology Today Therapist Finder — psychologytoday.com Searchable directory of licensed therapists by location, insurance, specialty, and more.

  • SAMHIN (South Asian Mental Health Initiative & Network) — samhin.org Directory of South Asian mental health clinicians, searchable by language, location, and specialty.

  • StrongHearts Native Helpline — strongheartshelpline.org | 1-844-7NATIVE Culturally appropriate 24/7 emotional support for Native Americans experiencing crisis, domestic violence, or mental health challenges.

  • Therapy for Black Girls — therapyforblackgirls.com Online space and therapist directory dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls.

  • Therapy for Latinx — therapyforlatinx.com Directory connecting Latinx individuals with culturally responsive therapists.

  • TherapyDen — therapyden.com Inclusive therapist directory with filters for race, gender identity, sexuality, faith, and therapy approaches.
AYA Community & Connection

  • 3 Little Birds 4 Life – Wishes and support for young adults with cancer. Free | In-person/Regional

  • Amy’s Rays of Sunshine – Cards and encouragement for young adults, often transplant-focused. Free | Virtual

  • Bay Area Young Survivors (BAYS) – Community for young women diagnosed under 45 with breast cancer. Free | Virtual/Regional

  • Bright Spot Network – Support for survivors who are parents. Free | Virtual

  • Dear Jack Foundation – Retreats, wish-granting, and community programs for young adult survivors. Free | In-person/Virtual

  • Stupid Cancer – AYA community with summits, meetups, and digital programs. Free | Virtual/In-person

  • The Boon Project – Charleston-based AYA connection and wellness hub. Free | Virtual/Regional

  • Ulman Foundation – Navigation, retreats, and support programs specifically for young adults impacted by cancer. Free | In-person/Virtual

  • Young Adult Cancer Canada (YACC) – Retreats, camps, and national AYA community spaces in Canada. Free | In-person/Virtual

  • Young Adult Survivors United – Peer wellness programs for YA survivors and co-survivors. Free | Virtual/Local

Peer Matching & Mentorship

  • Cancer Hope Network – 1:1 peer support for patients, survivors, and caregivers across diagnoses. Free | Virtual

  • Connecting Champions – Matches AYAs with mentors in dream careers. Free | Virtual

  • Imerman Angels – 1:1 peer mentorship for patients and caregivers. Free | Virtual

Creative, Storytelling & Expression

  • Elephants & Tea – Young adult cancer magazine and creative storytelling platform. Free | Digital/Events

  • Humor Beats Cancer – Storytelling and humor-based community for those impacted by cancer. Free | Virtual

  • Kits to Heart – Care kits and art therapy experiences for survivors. Free | Virtual/In-person

  • Scar Stories – Creative storytelling and empowerment community for AYAs. Free | Digital/Events

Caregiver, Co-Survivor & Family Support

Sometimes coping with cancer includes struggles with substances. You are not alone, and help is here without judgment.

  • HAMS (Harm Reduction for Alcohol) — hams.cc Resources for people seeking safer drinking, moderation, or abstinence using harm-reduction strategies.

  • Moderation Management — moderation.org Non-abstinence peer program offering tools for people seeking to reduce or moderate drinking.

  • Partnership to End Addiction — drugfree.org Resources and family support for young people and loved ones navigating substance use.

  • SAMHSA National Helpline — findtreatment.gov | 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
    24/7 treatment referral and information service in English and Spanish.

  • SMART Recovery — smartrecovery.org Science-based recovery program with peer groups and CBT-style self-management tools.

These are online or remote support groups. This list does not catalog in-person groups. You can often ask your oncology social worker, medical team, or local cancer center about in-person support groups! 

  • Breastcancer.org Virtual Meetups — breastcancer.org Weekly Zoom groups by diagnosis and stage, including metastatic and young adult-focused spaces.

  • Bright Spot Network — brightspotnetwork.org Programs and virtual support groups for YA survivors parenting small children.

  • Cancer Dudes — cancerdudes.org Online community and peer support for men moving forward after cancer.

  • CancerCare Online Support Groups — cancercare.org Free, 15-week virtual support groups led by oncology social workers for different diagnoses and survivorship stages.

  • Cancer Survivors Network (American Cancer Society) — cancer.org Nationwide discussion boards and forums for survivors and caregivers.

  • Gilda’s Club (CSC Affiliate) — cancersupportcommunity.org Provides free online support groups and YA-specific programs.

  • I Had Cancer — ihadcancer.com Social network connecting cancer fighters, survivors, and caregivers globally by diagnosis and life stage.

  • LBBC (Living Beyond Breast Cancer) Online Support Groups — lbbc.org Peer-led Facebook and online groups for breast cancer patients, including young adult and metastatic-specific groups.

  • Pickles Group — picklesgroup.org Virtual peer support groups for children ages 6–18 whose parent or guardian has cancer.

  • SHARE Cancer Support — sharecancersupport.org Peer-led nonprofit offering Zoom support groups and peer navigation for breast and gynecologic cancers.

  • TNBC Foundation Online Support Groups — tnbcfoundation.org Virtual support groups for people with triple-negative breast cancer.

  • Ulman Foundation — ulmanfoundation.org Provides navigation and virtual group programs for YA patients and families.

  • Young Adult Survivors United (YASU) — yasurvivors.org Offers ongoing wellness and virtual support groups for YA survivors and co-survivors.

Have a resource you think we should add? Reach out to us at info@cactuscancer.org