Two heads are better than one. Many hands make light work. Teamwork makes the dream work! We’ve all heard sayings about teamwork. But did you know that teamwork is valuable beyond team sports and putting IKEA furniture together? For kids with cancer, peer support significantly improves outcomes in several essential ways — emotionally, socially…even physically!
Here's a breakdown:
Kids with cancer often feel "different" from their peers. They’re going through something difficult to comprehend outside of personal experience. Connecting with others who truly understand what they're going through reduces loneliness and helps them feel "normal" again.
These connections provide the opportunity to share struggles and victories. This fosters a sense of belonging and hope, making kids feel part of a community. That, in turn, strengthens emotional resilience through tough days and treatments.
Peer connections offer a chance to practice and maintain social skills, which are often disrupted by extended hospital stays or treatment schedules that take them out of school or extracurriculars.
There’s also an element of camaraderie—a great source of encouragement! When kids see others just like them who have successfully gone through similar treatments, it reframes cancer as something survivable rather than isolating or defeating.
It’s hard not to feel like giving up when we think we’re suffering alone. For kids, those feelings can be even more intense. Kids often model behaviors from peers. It’s just part of how they learn. As a result, seeing others handle chemotherapy, surgeries, or hitting recovery milestones can encourage kids to stick with it when things get difficult and painful.
Studies show that peer support lowers the rates of clinical depression and anxiety in young cancer patients. It works for everyone because humans are social creatures! Even the most introverted among us need real, meaningful human connections to be mentally and emotionally healthy.
With pediatric cancer, being part of a "team" where everyone is fighting together can make kids feel more in control of their situation. That alone helps alleviate the mental distress of the situation.
In group settings (like soccer teams, camps, or therapy groups), children are often more motivated to move, play, and participate, which supports physical strength and recovery. Solo play just isn’t as engaging. Kids are more likely to engage in physical therapy when they see friends doing the same.
We know that shared experiences—especially difficult or traumatic things like war—create unshakeable, deep bonds. Kids who have peer support to lean on during treatment often have stronger friendships and support systems as they grow into adulthood.
Peer support helps kids with cancer feel stronger, less alone, and more hopeful. And hope and connection are powerful medicines indeed!
Support Groups – Small, age-appropriate groups like the 'Kids Can Cope' program where kids talk about their experiences (in person or virtually) while guided by a counselor.
Buddy Systems – Newly diagnosed children are paired with a peer who has been through similar treatments. Buddies can offer emotional support, practical tips, and encouragement.
Play-Based Interaction – Structured activities like crafts, sports (like soccer), or game nights help natural friendships form without heavy emphasis on illness. Remember, connections thrive when kids are given safe, joyful spaces to be kids together—not just patients.
Hospital-Based Activities – Child life specialists often organize group events (crafts, movie nights, playrooms) inside hospitals to bring kids together safely.
Mentorship Programs – Teen or young adult cancer survivors can mentor younger patients, showing them life after treatment.
Camp and Retreat Experiences – Specialized camps for kids with cancer give them the full team experience—fun, normalcy, and peer bonding in a safe environment.
Online Communities – Essential for kids in long-term isolation or rural areas—private forums, group chats, or virtual game nights connect kids safely.
At the end of the day, peer connections can only help kids with cancer feel less alone, more understood, and better equipped to kick cancer! As parents, caregivers, and the community, let’s do everything possible to facilitate and champion peer support.