How do support groups help cancer patients?

People with cancer may feel overwhelmed, afraid and alone. Talking about cancer with family and friends can be difficult. Support groups can help cancer patients and survivors feel less alone and can help them deal with the emotional and everyday challenges cancer brings.

Such support groups provide a comfortable place where members can share their feelings about cancer and meet others who have "been there." They also may share information about their disease, side effects of treatment, or issues such as employment and insurance.

Cancer support groups may be led by other cancer patients or by a health professional such as a psychologist, social worker or counselor. Groups may be just for teens and young adults, for women only, or for a particular disease, such as breast cancer. Most groups are free but some charge a fee. (Check to see if your insurance will cover the cost.)

Family and friends also are affected when cancer touches someone they love. They may need help in dealing with family problems, worries about money, and changing roles within the family. Many groups encourage families and friends to participate along with the patient or survivor. Some groups are designed just for family members of people with cancer.

The UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center offers a wide range of free support groups through its Cancer Resource Center, which also maintains a large database of other support groups in the northern California area. Cancer Resource Center staff can be reached by e-mail or by calling 415/885-3693. Additionally, the American Cancer Society and many other organizations offer support groups for cancer patients and their families. To find out about other groups in your community, talk with your doctor, nurse, or hospital social worker or check your local newspaper.

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