Survivorship and peer support: Outcomes from youth leadership initiatives

MIB Agents is a nonprofit organization dedicated toproviding support for patients and families affected by Osteosarcoma (OS), amalignancy that primarily affects children and AYAs. Over the past decade, MIBhas implemented youth-led initiatives to inform OS research, lobby forpertinent legislation, and connect with current patients affected by OS. Oneprogram, called Ambassador Agents, connects OS survivors with current patientsand families affected by OS. Another program, called the Junior Advisory Board,is a panel of AYAs who are responsible for informing OS research, lobbying forpediatric cancer legislation, and producing podcasts to spread their voiceacross the OS community. Additionally, the osTEAo podcast, run by OS survivors,aims to discuss post-treatment roadblocks that OS survivors face. One of thelargest indirect benefits of these programs is the creation of a peer supportcommunity between different OS survivors. Participation in these youth-ledinitiatives has facilitated coping among AYAs by fostering structuredopportunities for peer-to-peer connection and mutual support. Engagement inprograms such as the Ambassador Agents and Junior Advisory Board has beenassociated with reduced isolation, enhanced resilience, and a strengthened senseof identity within the osteosarcoma survivorship community.