Programs

Our Programs

Young adults diagnosed with cancer are required to press pause during such a pivotal time in their lives and often don’t receive consistent support from busy friends. Unfortunately, poor support can contribute to a negative response to treatment and overall worse health outcomes. Through two key programs, b-aware and b-connected, we are providing the information and tools that empower the social support network to be present from pre-cancer diagnosis through survivorship.

  • What is b-aware?

    b-aware is educating the general young adult community about the importance of being there for others. We’re proactively providing young adults access to important information and experiences that amplify and reinforce the importance of presence and inspire active change. By giving young adults the tools and experiences before a friend is diagnosed, they will feel empowered to be a strong supporter when the need arises.

    What is b-aware?

    b-aware b-informed b-empowered

    Not all of us will face a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime, but every single one of us will be called on to be a supporter. If we learn how to be the best possible supporter today, we have the power to improve the experience for others.

    Learn from the past.

    b-present.

    Change their future.

    Share Your Story
    • Leading Cause of Death

      Leading Cause of Death

      Cancer remains the #1 cause of disease-related death among young adults (YAs) between the ages of 18-39.
    • Survival Rates Are Not Improving

      Survival Rates Are Not Improving

      Unlike pediatric and older adult patients, YAs with cancer have seen little improvement in survival rates since 1975.
    • Social and Emotional Issues

      Social and Emotional Issues

      Isolation is the #1 psychosocial issue impacting YAs with cancer. Finding effective social support is often difficult for this age group.

    SOURCE: Couzin, 2007

    • For National Nonprofit Day, we want to give a huge shout out to our incredible Support Squad. 💪 Your time, presence, and willingness to learn with us does not go unnoticed. We couldn't be more grateful to have you all by our side during this adventure. 👭 2020 better get ready for all of the strong supporters we are going to create! 🙌 Want to join our #SupportSquad? Click the link in our bio!
    • We asked a room full of young adult cancer patients and survivors what the worst thing someone ever said to them after they were diagnosed, and some of their answers about knocked our socks off. 🙉 Head to b-present.org/blog to find out what they said!
    • “Just a reminder to everyone that you are not giving the people around you a hard time when you’re going through cancer, you are HAVING a hard time ✂️” —@thecancerpatient Preach! 👏👏👏 Cancer sucks. A reminder to support them on the tough days, let them vent if they need to, and don't take it personally.
    • Two programs. One mission. 💪 Want to know how we’re helping young adults with #cancer? Click the link in our bio!
    • A Letter to My Best Friend by Shaylin Gross 💌⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Dear Best Friend,⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ While life takes us through our own path, I hope you know that regardless of where we end up, I will always be there for you. Maybe not physically, but emotionally, I will always be there for you. 👭⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Thank you for sticking by me, getting to know my life, showing me the most sincere support and unconditional love. I couldn't thank you enough for the countless amount of times that you stuck by me when I needed you. I have no idea what I'd do without you sometimes... or all of the time. And I am so happy that I don't ever have to find out. I love you!⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Your Best Friend,⁣⁣ Shaylin⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ For #NationalFriendshipDay, don't forget to remind your BFF of how awesome they are! Schedule a hangout, give them a call, send them a thoughtful text, or tag them in this post. Sweet words of affirmation are powerful. 💪⁣⁣
    • New website, who dis? 🤓 We just upgraded our site with some sweet new features including a blog! Take a peek and let us know what you think → b-present.org 👀

  • What is b-connected?

    b-connected is providing the necessary tools to facilitate strong support for young adult cancer patients post-diagnosis through survivorship. We’re addressing the unique needs of these young adults throughout the treatment journey by working closely with patients, survivors, and supporters, to enhance the connectedness of social support networks.

    What is b-connected?

    The b-there Tool

    Our web-based patient and supporter connection tool, b-there, is designed to ensure the support network has the information they need to be there for the cancer patient from the day of diagnosis.

    The tool gives the patient a simple, low-stress way to control visits, convey status, and request needed items, allowing supporters to be responsive to the patient’s physical and emotional needs. Through the easy-to-understand patient dashboard, supporters can quickly get updates on how the patient is doing, what they need, if they want visitors, how they can help, and more.

    Interested in helping evaluate the b-there tool?  Check out the latest info on our testing.

    I Want to Help
    • Patient Status

      Patient Status

      Informs supporters how the patient is doing, the patient's preferred method of contact, and if they are welcoming visitors.
    • Calendar

      Calendar

      Lets supporters know when the patient is available, what activities are of interest to them, and how they can help.
    • Wish List

      Wish List

      Allows supporters to see what the patient needs, when they need it, and how they would like it to be delivered.