A web site launched last month offers people living with cancer a new outlet to heal. My Cancer Place is a MySpace- type site for cancer patients and survivors that helps people form a community, discuss related issues and make lasting friendships.

The site’s forum gives users the opportunity to discuss new cancer therapies and questions about different types of cancers. Users can also browse profiles and web sites of other members, view members’ photos and artwork and answer users’ cancer queries through an online poll.

Cancer Research UK is also experimenting with ways to link up cancer patients through its e-befriending programme. E-befriending is a service that matches cancer patients together to start discussions through e-mail. The organisation also offers assistance in teaching cancer patients to set up blogs where they can record their life with cancer.