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Cancer Explained

Grief & bereavement support

Family and friends grieving a death — including children and teens, widowed partners, and bereaved parents.

What help is available

National grief organizations, peer grief groups, children's grief programs, and directories for finding local bereavement support (often free through hospices).

Good to know

Grief support is not therapy. If grief feels unmanageable, a grief counselor or mental-health professional can help — and hospices often offer free bereavement counseling.

A note about peer support

Peer support can provide understanding and practical encouragement, but group members may share personal experiences that do not apply to everyone. Do not change treatment, medication, or urgent-care decisions based only on advice from an online group.

How to evaluate an online cancer group →

8 listed resources

Most recent check: 2026-07-13

  • Peer support groupVerified active

    CancerCare Online Support Groups

    Free online support groups led by CancerCare's professional oncology social workers, covering many diagnoses and situations, including caregiving and bereavement.

    OnlineOnline — country specificFreeChecked 2026-07-13

  • Hospice & end-of-life supportVerified active

    CaringInfo

    A program of the National Alliance for Care at Home providing free consumer information on hospice, palliative care, advance directives, and caregiving at the end of life.

    OnlineNationalFreeChecked 2026-07-13

  • Bereavement supportVerified active

    Dougy Center

    A national center for grieving children and families, offering peer grief-support groups at its Portland home base, extensive free resources, and a directory of similar programs worldwide.

    Online & in personNationalFreeChecked 2026-07-13

  • Bereavement supportVerified active

    GriefShare

    A network of faith-based (Christian) grief-support groups hosted by local churches, using a structured video-and-discussion format.

    Online & in personNationalCost variesChecked 2026-07-13

  • Bereavement supportVerified active

    Hospice Foundation of America Grief Resources

    Educational grief resources and programs from Hospice Foundation of America, including guidance on finding local grief support — often available free through hospice bereavement programs.

    OnlineNationalFreeChecked 2026-07-12

  • Bereavement supportVerified active

    National Alliance for Children's Grief

    A national nonprofit network of children's grief-support providers, with a directory to find local support for grieving children and teens.

    OnlineNationalFreeChecked 2026-07-12

  • Bereavement supportVerified active

    Soaring Spirits International

    A secular nonprofit connecting widowed people through peer-based programs, including regional social groups and online communities.

    Online & in personInternationalFreeChecked 2026-07-13

  • Bereavement supportVerified active

    The Compassionate Friends

    A national self-help organization for families grieving the death of a child of any age, with local chapters, online communities, and private groups.

    Online & in personNationalFreeChecked 2026-07-13

Related guides

What this directory is — and isn’t

This is a free discovery tool. Listing an organization, program, or community here does not mean Cancer Explained medically endorses it, and we cannot guarantee assistance, availability, or eligibility. Details change — always confirm directly with the organization. This directory is not medical advice, triage, or an emergency service. How listings are checked →