Building Cancer Peer Support Groups: A Facilitator's Guide

Living with an oncology diagnosis brings unique emotional and practical challenges that are often best understood by those with similar experiences. Starting a peer support group allows survivors and patients to foster solidarity, share resources, and create safe spaces for meaningful connection. This foundational course equips you with the practical knowledge and facilitation skills needed to launch and maintain an effective peer community. You will explore core communication techniques, ethical boundaries, and organizational strategies. What you'll learn: • Understand core principles of peer support and group dynamics in oncology contexts • Establish clear group guidelines, confidentiality standards, and emotional safety protocols • Master active listening and empathetic moderation techniques to guide discussions • Navigate challenging group dynamics, burnout prevention, and community care • Utilize modern digital communication tools to host hybrid and online support sessions • Plan structured session formats, discussion prompts, and peer-led activities. The material starts with essential terminology, basic concepts, and foundational definitions of peer advocacy before progressing to group facilitation models and practical operations. This course is created for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and advocates with no prior group leadership experience required. Read through the material today to learn how to build an impactful peer network.