Programs

b-aware // b-connected

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

    • Our new podcast launches in 3...2...1! 🎙⁣ ⁣ Tune in to The Support Report with b-present hosted by our very own @justinleepeters. We're sharing real stories from young adults and diving deep into how support changed their lives. 💪 ⁣ ⁣ We'll explore their challenges, triumphs, and everything in between. We're here to inspire, entertain, and empower you to create your own stories of support and presence for others within your community.⁣ ⁣ In Episode 1, we go inside the mind of Vivian Nunez (@vivnunez), a former young adult caregiver and founder of @2damnyoung — a resource and community for teens and young adults who are navigating grief. ⁣ ⁣ Click the link in our bio to listen in!⁣
    • We all go through tough times, and people help us through them. 💪 When chatting with a friend who is struggling with their mental health, it is crucial to provide a non-judgemental space where they can be open about how they are feeling. ⁣ ⁣ A few tips:⁣ ⁣ ✅ Don't second guess their feelings. While you may be happy to chat and offer support, chances are you aren't a trained counselor. Try not to make assumptions about what is wrong or jump in too quickly with your own diagnosis or solutions.⁣ ⁣ ✅ Let them lead the conversation and don't pressure them to tell you anything they aren't ready to talk about. Talking about their struggles with someone else takes courage and trust. ⁣ ⁣ ✅ Listen with no distractions. Your friend wants to feel heard. Repeating what they said back to them ensures them that you understood and lets them know that you respect their feelings. ⁣ ⁣ ✅ Keep questions open-ended. Try to keep your language neutral. Give the person time to think about and answer your questions, but try not to bombard them with too many questions.⁣ ⁣ ✅ Offer to help them find professional support. You can offer to the doctor with them or help them talk to another friend or family member. But try not to take control and allow them to make decisions.⁣ ⁣ Most importantly, remind them that they are not alone and that you will b-there to help them through this. #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek 🧠⁣
    • If your friend was struggling with their mental health, would you know what to do and how to best support them? ⁣ ⁣ Our co-founder @jordannalyce and mental health advocate @emma.vanbrock share their perspective. 👂 ⁣ ⁣ #mentalhealthawarenessweek ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ Watch the full video on https://youtu.be/wn4WZUC_jwU
    • Why did we create b-there? 🤔⁣ ⁣ In the face of a life-threatening diagnosis, receiving consistent and meaningful support, and staying connected are a patient’s lifeline. Unfortunately, many young adults struggle with how to ask for or offer support. ⁣ ⁣ As a result, connections can become strained or broken, support becomes mismatched and inconsistent over time, and isolation becomes yet another health risk to overcome. 😢 And current caregiver and visitor restrictions from COVID-19 have amplified these issues. ⁣ ⁣ It can be stressful for those needing support to communicate how they feel, what they need, and whether or not they want visitors for fear of seeming weak, needy, or hurting someone’s feelings.⁣ ⁣ From the supporter’s perspective, lack of experience and not knowing their friend’s status and needs can make them feel uncertain about how to support and when to reach out and connect. ⁣ ⁣ That is where b-there comes in. It streamlines communication between patients and their support network, so those in need get the support they desire. 💪⁣ ⁣ Learn more → b-present.org/b-there⁣
    • "Kirsten's nurses knew when to go the extra mile or facilitate connections that put the wind back in her sails. They made time during their busy shifts to walk the halls with her, take a break in the garden with her, or just hang out in her room and joke for a few minutes. ⁣ ⁣ They made defining moments like her 20th birthday, and the end of treatment feel special. Those countless moments of compassion and support from her nurses brought Kirsten hope, joy, laughter, and in the end, peace." —Abby Westerman, CEO of the b-present Foundation ⁣ ⁣ To the oncology nurses around the world, we appreciate you, we are grateful for your endless sacrifices, and we can't imagine what the journey would be like without you by our side. Thank you. 💪#OncologyNursingMonth⁣ ⁣ Read the full story on the blog → bit.ly/OncNurseThankYou⁣
    • Stay connected with b-there (beta)! 💪⁣ ⁣ b-there is designed to connect young adult cancer patients with their supporters. With everything going on in the world today, it is vital now more than ever to stay connected.⁣ ⁣ b-there will provide families, friends, and neighbors the info they need to ensure our at-risk and isolated community members receive the support desired while staying healthy and safe.⁣ ⁣ How does it work? ⁣ ⁣ Anyone seeking support can create a private network and invite their supporters to join.⁣ ⁣ Users can:⁣ ✅ Share their status⁣ ✅ Manage visits and activities⁣ ✅ Request needed items⁣ ✅ Arrange deliveries⁣ ✅ Send messages⁣ ⁣ Interested in exploring b-there or know someone who might be? Visit b-present.org/b-there⁣

  • 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 online 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 so supporters can quickly get updates on how the patient is doing, what they need, if they want visitors, how they can help, and more.

    Learn More
    • 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.