The statewide nonprofit the Maine Coalition to Fight Prostate Cancer (mcfpc.org) offers men and women the opportunity to reach out to others through its “One2One Confidential” outreach call-in program.

Thirteen men and women have been trained and stand ready to respond via phone, according to a news release by Sandy Jaeger, a member of the coalition board.

Periodically, the facilitator, Nelson Leavitt, hosts training sessions so that those who have been on their prostate cancer journey can work most comfortably with those calling in. The training and the One2one Confidential conversations are free.

The training will likely take place in the Augusta area during May and will be a hybrid experience, so it will also be possible for those who cannot attend in person to Zoom in. To apply or to have  questions answered about this program, call Leavitt at 1-855-552-7200 ext 801 or email naleavitt@gmail.com. Individuals also can call to speak confidentially to someone about PCa.

When a call is received, Leavitt matches the caller with one of the men or women whose experience most closely resembles the caller’s needs. For example, he will try to pair men who are in their 60s with one another, or men who are considering surgery, radiation or active surveillance. LGBTQ men can be connected with men of equal standing. A woman who has questions about how to best support her male partner can be connected with a woman who has lived through the experience.