A new peer support system at Community Cancer Institute is helping those with cancer navigate their recent diagnosis. 

How it works: The Peer Mentorship Program pairs cancer survivors with newly diagnosed patients to provide guidance, hope and practical advice throughout treatment.  

Volunteers are vetted with the help of doctors and cancer survivors. Mark Cruz, Oncology Operations Manager at Community Cancer Institute, said mentality and approach are considered when matching mentors and mentees. 

“A lot of people don’t understand the importance of having support,” said Cruz. “And so having someone who’s been through it — a mentor — that could then come and help support them along the journey is the reason why it [the program] was developed.” 

Who it impacts: When Community Health System employee Jeff Janzen was diagnosed with stage IV tongue cancer in 2023, he didn’t know what to expect. He credits his wife — whom he calls his “rock” — with helping him. The experience made him realize how important guidance is in cancer treatment. 

“We wanted to start a mentorship program,” Janzen said. “Since we have gone through it, we would know how to help answer questions or just give them an idea of what to expect.” 

Three years later, he’s cancer free and helping his mentee, Casey Poteet, find his way through his journey after being diagnosed with the same type of cancer as Janzen.  

“It’s nice to have somebody that’s been through it to help understand what you’re going through,” Poteet said.  

The big picture: The Peer Mentorship Program is not just beneficial to mentees at the start of their journey.  

“The thing we didn’t expect to happen was that the people who have gone through it have equally benefited,” said Cruz. “They’ve been able to share and give back.” 

He added, “I think sometimes we forget that those people have so much to offer outside of just being a survivor.”

Learn more: Meet Jeff Janzen and Casey Poteet on this episode of MedWatch Today