1. Purpose
TCW Connect is a private peer-support program for adults affected by cancer. It connects people living with cancer with survivor mentors who have relevant lived experience. It is not medical care, therapy, crisis support or an emergency service.
2. Eligibility and mentor approval
- Warriors: Adults who are newly diagnosed, in treatment, after treatment, living with recurrence or metastatic cancer may apply.
- Survivor mentors: Adults with relevant lived cancer experience may apply when they feel able to support another person safely.
- TCW approval: Email verification does not approve a profile. TCW reviews every email-verified profile before it can enter matching. Survivor mentors also require identity and lived-experience verification. TCW may decline, suspend or close a profile to protect participants.
3. How matching works
Applicants give explicit consent for health-data processing, automated matching, limited-profile sharing, program emails and meeting scheduling. Automatic matching requires the same cancer type, at least one shared language and Google Meet as the first-conversation format. For “Other cancer”, the cancer name entered must match exactly. When more than one eligible Survivor is available, the system ranks them by shared treatment experience, cancer subtype, cancer phase, support topics and practical fit such as availability, age range and timezone. These factors help select the best available mentor; there is no numerical compatibility threshold. If no eligible Survivor with the same cancer type is available, the Warrior remains in the matching pool until one becomes available.
The Survivor receives the proposal first. If the Survivor accepts and confirms the safety rules, the Warrior receives the proposal and makes a separate decision. Before mutual acceptance, each person sees only a limited private profile. Contact details are shared only after both people accept.
After mutual acceptance, TCW uses the availability provided to offer up to two shared 45-minute options. One participant proposes one of the available times. The other may confirm it or suggest the remaining option; a private Google Calendar event and Google Meet are created only after the same time is confirmed. Do not forward invitations or meeting links.
4. Safety and conduct
- Be respectful, keep information confidential and respect boundaries.
- Do not give medical instructions, diagnose, pressure anyone to change treatment, request money, promote products or pursue romantic or sexual contact.
- Do not record, transcribe, screenshot or share private conversations or profiles.
- Use professional medical, mental-health or emergency services when those services are needed.
5. Report and block
A participant may use Report and block from the private TCW Connect page at any time. The system immediately stops the connection, suspends the reported profile for TCW review and cancels future Google Meet events linked to that profile. TCW records the incident privately and may keep the profile suspended, reinstate it or close it after review. If there is immediate danger, contact local emergency services first.
6. Privacy
Profiles, proposals, connections and safeguarding reports are stored privately and encrypted. There is no public survivor directory. Health details are not placed in calendar titles or routine TCW alerts. Participants should share only what is necessary and should never forward a private portal link.
7. Ending participation and retention
Participants may decline a proposal, end a connection, close their profile or withdraw consent from the same private page. Ending a connection stops that pair and, where the profiles remain eligible, returns them to matching. Closing a profile or withdrawing consent immediately stops matching and contact, cancels future meetings, signs the participant out on every device and schedules the encrypted profile and related proposal, contact and meeting records for deletion within 24 hours. Unverified profiles are scheduled for deletion after 14 days, rejected mentor profiles after 90 days, terminal proposals after up to 90 days and ended connections after up to one year. Resolved or dismissed safeguarding records may be kept for up to five years where necessary for safety, accountability or legal claims; open matters and legal holds may be retained as required. TCW may restrict participation when the rules are breached or safety cannot be confirmed.
8. Contact and disclaimer
Questions or concerns may be sent to tcw@tutticancerwarriors.org. TCW Connect provides peer support only and does not replace professional counseling, diagnosis or medical treatment.