Social networking cancer sites for young adults gain ground

Social networking cancer sites for young adults gain ground    

Since ePharm5 reported in December 2006 about Steps For Living's launch of the Web sites ImTooYoungForThis.org and MySpace.com/ImTooYoungForThis, nearly 500 visitors have signed on, reports the nonprofit. The program, founded by concert pianist and 11-year brain cancer survivor Matthew Zachary, has an affiliate network of more than 110 cancer treatment centers, including Dana Farber, MD Anderson, Mayo Clinic, Sloan Kettering, and St. Jude, along with chapters of The American Cancer Society and The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The site contains credentialed, peer-developed directories of young adult support organizations, forums, blogs, chat rooms, advocacy tools, camp retreats, and more designed for the young adult living with cancer. The site also functions as a patient education aid to pediatric oncology social workers.

GlaxoSmithKline and ScheringPlough are among the supporters for the program.