EXCITING NEW ONLINE SUPPORT SERVICE ABOUT TO BE LAUNCHED FOR AUSTRALIAN YACs [March 1 2009]

The Cancer Council's (CC) 'online support website' is being rebuilt to address all the needs for Young Adults with Cancer (YACs).

The crew at the CC are super busy putting all this together as we speak as this new website is scheduled for launch this month!!

The great thing about this website is it will be a place were YACs can meet other YACs and find information hubs for the topics around the 9 key areas of concern that were identified in my research study last year along with 3 additional ones that the CC consider also important.

Here are the topics:
1. Sexuality and body image
2. Isolation
3. Independence and autonomy
4. Supportive cancer care
5. Treatment side effects and fertility issues
6. Emotional burden and peer support
7. Relationships, partnering, friendships, having a new value system and who 'sticks around'
8. Survivorship, fear of recurrence and long-term effects of treatment
9. Nutrition and diet
10. Complementary therapies
11. Study and work
12. Financial burden and insurance

HOW YOU CAN HELP...

The CC are now in the process of trying to find some YACs and/or YAC carers (either young adult carers or carers of young adults) who are willing to be interviewed for podcasts to go on the YAC site. The interviews will be about 15 minutes long, and they can just use your first name or even a fake name if that’s what you prefer. They are audio-only. You will be interviewed by health professionals and/or cancer support specialists purposefully selected to engage with YACs in a thoughtful manner whilst at the same time having fun.

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If anyone is interested in participating in these interviews, please send me an email ASAP (as the CC hope to have the first interview ready to go up on the site in the next 2 weeks) and I will organise for you to meet the CC crew for a chat.

This is going to be awesome!
Nikki
nshipard@bigpond.net.au