First Connection Program

Are you interested in speaking with someone who has been through it before?

If you've been recently diagnosed with cancer, you may find it helpful to speak with someone who's been through treatment and learned how to manage the same disease you're trying to cope with each day. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada's First Connection Program is a peer-to-peer program that matches newly diagnosed patients and their families with trained volunteers who have been touched firsthand by a blood cancer and shared similar experiences.

Trained volunteer survivors offer caring support and information by sharing their special perspectives on the recovery process. First Connection participants and volunteers are matched by age, diagnosis and gender when possible.

Peers are trained in basic counseling skills and are armed with local resource materials so that patients and family members need not feel isolated as they begin the treatment process. Anyone with a blood cancer is eligible to receive a call. There is no charge for this program.

The program gives patients and family members the opportunity to share experiences with someone who has "been through it," and obtain valuable information about The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC) and the community resources available to support them. This unique match gives the patient or family member valuable insight from someone who also has experienced a blood cancer.

To Speak with a First Connection volunteer

If you wish to speak to a First Connection volunteer, please fill out the online request form. Someone from LLSC will contact you by phone to make a connection.

Volunteers Needed

I believe hope is the best thing I can give the people I am connected with through the First Connection program. I am able to share my experience, answer questions and help newly diagnosed patients to understand what they're feeling is normal.

- Linda Lawhorn
 First Connection Program Volunteer

To become a First Connection volunteer, you should meet the following criteria:

• Be a blood cancer survivor with a one year post active treatment with an interest in, and a commitment to, helping others
• Be screened by the LLSC office for the program
• Participate in all training provided by the LLSC office
• Make a one-year commitment to the program and meet periodically to receive continuing education and training at your LLSC office
   

To find out more, please contact:
 

Complete the Online Request Form

The First Connection Program was made possible thanks to the support of our partners