Joining a Support Group
BY THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE (NCI)
Support groups can have many benefits. You may feel better about yourself, find a new life focus, have better control over the situations that you may face, make new friends, improve your mood, cope better with your daily task, learn more about the illness, and better deal with your own needs and the needs of
 others in your life.
SUPPORT GROUPS CAN:
- Give you a chance to talk about your feelings and work through them
- Help you deal with practical problems, such as getting to or from doctor visits, or problems at work or school
- Help you cope with side effects of treatment
The number one reason people join a support group is to be with other people who have "been there"--not because they do not receive support from friends and family. Some research shows that joining a specific type of support group improves quality of life and enhances survival.
TYPES OF SUPPORT GROUPS
There are many different types of support groups. Some may be for one type of cancer or certain illness only; others may be open to those facing an illness or for their family caregivers. Some may be only for women or men, and others may be focused on people in certain ethnic or racial groups. Support groups may be led by health professionals or fellow patients.
Support groups are not just for people who have had cancer or are ill. Support groups can be helpful for the family caregivers, children or for the family members of survivors.
These groups focus on family concerns such as role changes, relationship changes, financial worries, and how to support the person who is ill or disabled. Some groups include both the patients and their family caregivers and family members.
Not only do support groups meet in person, they also meet “on line.” These Internet support groups can be a big help to people with computers who live in rural areas or who have trouble getting to meetings. With Internet groups, you can seek support at any time of the day or night. While these groups can provide valuable emotional support, they may not always offer correct medical information. Be careful about any cancer information you get from the Internet. Check with your doctor before making any changes based on what you read.
Is a Support Group Right for You? and Could a support group help you? If you answer yes to most of the questions that follow, you may want to try one out.
- Do you enjoy being part of a group?
- Are you ready to talk about your feelings with others?
- Do you want to hear others’ stories about their cancers?
- Would you like the advice of others who have gone through the medical treatment?
- Do you have helpful advice or hints to offer others?
- Would reaching out to support others make you feel better?
- Would you be able to work with people who have different ways of dealing with illness issues?
- Do you want to learn more about post-treatment issues?
To find groups that meet near you, ask your doctor, nurse, social worker, the health organizations such as:
- National Cancer Institute 1-800-422-6237
- American Cancer Society 1-800-227-2345
- Alzheimer’s Association 1-800-272-3900
- American Diabetes Association 619-234-9897
- Parkinson Disease Association 858- 273-6763
For information on Support groups for Family caregivers you could also ask to the doctor, in the Hospital or call the CAREGIVER COALITION 1-800-510-2020
This article is adapted for community education from an excerpted from a booklet “ Life After Cancer Treatment” written and published by the National Cancer Institute (NCI),9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892. The NCI is the U.S. Government’s main agency for cancer research and information about cancer.
To have more information about Cancer and to request a copy from the complete booklet, please visit the National Cancer Institute (NCI) website at: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/life-after-treatment
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