Cancer and support groups

"Although my family was supportive, I felt as if they couldn't possibly understand what it was like for me. I needed to talk to someone else who had cancer. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't talk to your family but it's different when you talk to another survivor. In the Living with Cancer Group, I found that I could give something back... which was very important as it was the first time in a long time that I felt useful."

In most cities and towns there are support groups consisting of people with cancer and trained professionals who manage the sessions. The professionals provide a forum where the person with cancer can be open about their thoughts and feelings, and can discover that these are normal and acceptable. Other members of the group often suggest alternative ways to deal with difficult issues, ways that have helped them. Seeing others who are coping with similar situations can aid in identifying solutions to problems that seem overwhelming initially. In addition, membership in a formal group may give the person with cancer the means to overcome a feeling of helplessness by offering assistance to others.