When you receive a diagnosis of having skin cancer, it can be quite a shock to you and your loved ones. This often can cause you to go into depression or an overwhelming feeling of helplessness, wondering what to do and why this is happening to you. It can seem like the whole weight of the world has been thrust onto your shoulders. You may not be sure how you are going to deal with all of it.
Fortunately, you don’t have to deal with it alone. Your family and friends will likely be one source of support you can rely upon whenever you have a “down” period of dealing with skin cancer. However, unless they have experienced cancer themselves, they will likely not be aware of all of the challenges and emotions you will face while you are battling skin cancer.
Fortunately, your family and friends are not the only source of support you can rely upon during your battle with skin cancer. There are many community resources for you to take advantage of as well.
How Cancer Support Groups Can Be Helpful in Your Fight and Recovery
Cancer support groups can be a great source of support, encouragement, and information to help you battle skin cancer. These groups are made up of people who have or are battling cancers of their own. As a result, they’re well aware of the challenges and emotions you are dealing with while battling skin cancer.
Not only will members of such groups enable you to stay strong during rough periods in your fight and recovery from skin cancer, but they will also be a wonderful source of information as well. For instance, they’ll know what questions you should be asking your doctor and what medications and methods worked to help relieve their symptoms. They’ll also know how to deal with the financial and emotional burdens as well.1
Finding the Right Support Group
It’s important to note that not all cancer support groups are right for all people. While all cancer patients can help each other to an extent, those who are battling skin cancer may face some different issues than those who are battling breast cancer. Therefore, it is preferable if you find local support groups with members who are battling the same or very similar type of cancer as skin cancer.
In addition, you should find a local support group where you feel the most comfortable with its members. The support group will not do you much good if you don’t feel comfortable around its members. You really want to find a group that has many “good listeners” in it and that exhibits a positive attitude toward dealing with cancer and beating it. Members who are quick to offer advice before you finish speaking about your situation or who are depressed over having cancer are not going to aid you in your quest to live the best life you can and to beat skin cancer.
Where to Find Local Support Groups
Local cancer support groups give you the opportunity to have direct contact with other people who are dealing with cancer. This can be quite helpful in aiding your recovery, as this will likely lift your spirits to interact with people dealing with similar circumstances directly. One disadvantage, though, is that you have to be able to get to these meetings on a regular basis, but hopefully, your family and friends can aid you in getting to these meetings if you cannot get their by your own means.
Local cancer support groups can usually be found at the hospital or cancer care center where you are receiving care. You should ask your doctor on what is available at your hospital or care center. You should also check with your hospital or cancer care center to see what other support groups are available in your immediate area. They should be able to tell you what other groups are available at surrounding hospitals, churches, and local community centers.2
Most of these local cancer support groups are led by medical professionals, social workers, and psychologists. Many of these types of groups require no registration fee, but a few of them do.
Many of your local communities likely have cancer support groups. To find out more about these groups, you should contact your local community office, obtain a copy of your local community newspaper for listings and contact information, or talk to friends in these areas to determine how you can join these specific groups.
National Options to Consider for Local Support
There are some cancer support groups that are available throughout the United States. One such group is the “I Can Cope” program. It is a free educational program involving adults who are dealing with cancer or their families and friends who are helping to take care of them. This cancer support group helps to dispel the myths surrounding cancer and help to provide accurate information, including helping you to take more advantage of local community resources.3
Another cancer support group that operates throughout the United States is the “Cancer Hope Network.” The Cancer Hope Network’s mission is to provide you and your caregivers one-on-one support with a person in or near your local area who has recovered from cancer and who can inspire you to continue fighting against skin cancer.4 By contacting The Cancer Hope Network, they will match you up with a Support Volunteer from their network of volunteers who they feel will be most beneficial to help you deal with your skin cancer diagnosis and treatment.5
Another national cancer support group with many local affiliates throughout the United States is the “Cancer Support Community”. This organization looks to empower all cancer patients with knowledge about cancer and its treatments, with the ability to take action to improve their health and their lives, and with the support and community patients need to have the best chance of defeating cancer.6
There’s Always Support Available Even if There Appears to Be None in Your Local Area
Sometimes, you may live in an area that doesn’t really have a cancer support group. If this happens to be your case, do not despair; there are still ways to gain the support you need to help you fight and overcome skin cancer.
Many organizations on the national and local levels provide telephone support groups and online support groups that can always give you support no matter where you live. Many of the online support groups are accessible day and night, and required passwords make sure that online conversations are safe from unauthorized entry. Telephone support groups have sessions that occur regularly for one hour at a time and enable you to talk to other cancer patients and to those who have recovered from cancer from all over the United States.
You’re Not Alone When Fighting Skin Cancer
It may seem like you’re in the fight all alone when it comes to receiving a diagnosis of skin cancer. However, it’s important to remember that there are many community resources you can access, both in your local community and online. By keeping in mind that you are not alone in your fight against skin cancer, your spirits will remain much higher, which will give you the strength you need to fight the skin cancer with all of your might and live as normal and unhindered a life as possible.
References
1 Find Support Programs and Services in Your Area. (2011). American Cancer Society. Retrieve from: www.cancer.org/Treatment/SupportProgramsServices/index
2 Ibid
3 I Can Cope. (2011). From The American Cancer Society.: www.cancer.org/Treatment/SupportProgramsServices/Programs/i-can-cope?sitearea=SHR
4 Cancer Hope Network – Our Vision. (2011). From The Cancer Hope Network: www.cancerhopenetwork.org/index.php?page=ourvision
5 Cancer Hope Network – Find a Match. (2011). From The Cancer Hope Network: www.cancerhopenetwork.org/index.php?page=findamatch
6 Local Communities. (2011). Cancer Support Community: cancersupportcommunity.org/hc/Communities/Local-Communities/default.aspx
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The content provided on this site is for informational purposes only. Our content is not medical advice you should seek a licensed physician or health professional regarding all health issues. SKIN-CANCER.ORG takes no responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, or application of medication which results from reading this site.
