Major frustrations for anal cancer patients include not having access to quality and relevant support services and feeling isolated due to the difficult stigma associated with the disease. Consequently, many anal cancer patients face obstacles connecting to other people with similar diagnoses and treatments. Here are some resources to help tackle these problems. If there is something that you have found useful, but is not listed below, please share it with us.

Peer Support

The Peer to Peer Support Program is a free service provided by the Anal Cancer Foundation that matches thrivers (our word for survivors) with volunteer thrivers and caregivers with volunteer caregivers. Learn more and register.

Support Forums

Rare Cancer Alliance has an active online community for anal cancer and other rare cancers. Must be a member to post.

American Cancer Society has its own anal cancer discussion board.

Blog for a Cure offers free personal web publishing services for cancer survivors. It provides a way for individuals to tell their stories and interact with each other.

Inspire! by the National Cervical Cancer and HPV Coalition offers online community support for those affected by HPV-related diseases.

Macmillan has an anal cancer specific forum with a very active community.

Zen Caregiving Project is a non-profit organization offering courses, workshops, and training for professional, family, clinical, and volunteer caregivers in mindfulness-based, compassionate caregiving.

General Cancer Hotlines

CancerCare provides free, professional support services to anyone affected by cancer, including people with cancer, caregivers, children, loved ones and the bereaved. This includes telephone support groups for metastatic patients.

The R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation provides a volunteer-run hotline for newly diagnosed patients, as well as multidisciplinary second opinions. They match up newly diagnosed patients with someone who has had that type of cancer.

Colostomy Support

The United Ostomy Associations of America offers support groups for people with ostomies.