Peer Support Programs for Cancer

PeerTalk: Connect with other cancer patients who’ve had similar diagnoses, treatments and experiences.

UCSF PeerTalk connects interested patients with volunteer peer mentors – fellow patients who’ve been through cancer care at UCSF and understand what you’re going through. Peer mentors share their experiences, provide information and offer confidential support to meet emotional as well as practical needs. They don’t, however, give medical advice.

PeerTalk is offered through the  Ida & Joseph Friend Patient and Family Cancer Support Center.

Finding a mentor

When you sign up for PeerTalk, we'll match you with a mentor who had the same diagnosis, went through the same type of treatment or has similar life circumstances, such as having young children at home or sharing an interest in integrative care. You don't need to be a UCSF patient to be matched with a peer mentor. Everyone is welcome. There's no cost to participate. Mentors and patients connect virtually through our dedicated platform or over Zoom.

Becoming a mentor

We're grateful to patients and survivors who are willing to share their experiences and insights as peer support volunteers. It can be a powerful way of giving back.

To become a peer mentor, you need to:

  • Be at least six months post-diagnosis
  • Have been treated at UCSF for cancer care
  • Attend a virtual peer mentor training on Zoom

Sign up for PeerTalk

  • To be matched with a mentor or sign up to become a peer mentor, register here.
  • To learn more, contact [email protected] or call (415) 885-3693, Option 3.

Peer support for brain tumor patients and caregivers

UCSF also has peer support programs specifically for patients with brain tumors and their caregivers. 

Neuro-Oncology Survivors' Peer Support Program for Patients

Our trained volunteers – all brain cancer survivors -- are available to connect by phone to listen to your concerns, share their experiences and provide confidential emotional and informational support. We match patients with peer mentors who had the same type of brain tumor and, when possible, according to what patients say is important to them, such as age, gender or life circumstances.

Neuro-Oncology Caregiver Connection Program

A brain tumor diagnosis impacts the patient's family and other loved ones. This program connects you with spouses and family members who know what it's like to care for a brain tumor patient and who can share resources and coping strategies. When possible, we try to match caregivers by tumor type, treatment, age and family situation so that you can talk to someone who best understands the particular issues you’re facing.