Support Groups

Getting support is SOOO important. Being diagnosed with cancer is a very emotional experience. I remember when my husband was first diagnosed I tried to get him to join a support group, but he wasn’t having any of it. What turned out to be really ironic, is that he became a support leader for other patients – many of whom he had met while in treatment and others who were recommended to “give Jon a call” from friends and relatives. Within a few months, Jon was on the phone for several hours a day supporting other patients. He would discuss his treatment, what he had tried, etc. I really believe this helped him a great deal as he knew he was not alone and could share his experience with others,

There are so many types of support resources available. Some are geared towards specific cancers, others are general. And don’t forget the support groups for those of us who are caregivers – also extremely important.

One of the best sites I’ve come across recently on support groups is: https://www.cancercare.org/tagged/support_groups.

This site gives lists of online support, telephone groups, in-person groups and those that are targeted to various cancers. Really you can find something for every situation. But again, keep in mind that support groups really should be considered an important part of your treatment plan. Stats show that they do help with the psychological and emotional portion of your illness. Consider it seriously!