Young cancer patients and survivors now have a way to connect with peers all over the world, thanks to a first-of-its-kind interactive online community.

The Davis-based Yoursphere Media Inc., which operates the popular kids-only social networking site, Yoursphere.com, has teamed up with the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center to create “Kids Cancer Corner.”

The social networking site provides children who have been diagnosed with cancer with access to games, videos and more, plus the ability to interact with each other. The site will be maintained and monitored by the cancer center’s Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Advisory Board.

It’s hoped the site will help children better deal with isolation that often comes along with diagnosis and treatment.

“Children with cancer often feel isolated because they may not be able to go to school, and friends might feel uncomfortable around them,” said Marlene M. von Friederichs-Fitzwater, director of the Outreach Research and Education Program for the cancer center. “They tell us they also feel ‘different’ and ‘weird.’ That’s why we are so excited about Yoursphere, a website where kids with cancer like themselves can help them feel less alone and where activities can help take their minds off the disease.”

Kirolles “Cookie” Gendi knows all about that isolation.

Gendi was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma at the age of 9. He said he understands how valuable the new online community will be for children diagnosed with cancer.

“My world was turned upside down,” said Gendi, now 23 and a UCD graduate. “All of a sudden, I couldn’t play sports anymore. I wished I would have had a way like this to connect with other kids with cancer.”

Azadeh Afkhami, also a childhood cancer survivor and volunteer at the cancer center, agreed.

“It would make it much easier to share your journey with other kids going through their own experiences,” she said.

Yoursphere.com was started by Davis resident Mary Kay Hoal, a nationally recognized Internet safety expert. The site provides children with all the social networking activities they love — chatting with friends, posting videos, playing games and winning prizes — in an environment that respects privacy and educates members about online safety, cyberbullying and other issues.

Kids’ Cancer Corner will provide additional elements specific to the needs of children with cancer and their families. Kids who meet in the hospital or infusion center will be able to maintain their new friendships through the site, sharing stories and offering each other support and inspiration.

The advisory board also plans to add a “cancer buddy” component to Kids’ Cancer Corner allowing children who are newly diagnosed with cancer to select a trained adolescent or young adult cancer survivor to be their peer navigator through their experience.

“Children dealing with cancer often want to hear stories about and meet survivors who successfully completed treatment,” said von Friederichs-Fitzwater, who chairs the advisory board. “Survivors also benefit from the satisfaction of giving back.”

For more information, visit http://yoursphere.com or the UCD Cancer Center at http://cancer.ucdavis.edu.

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