EDITOR'S NOTE:

I am currently writing a new blog entry, which is long overdue since my last posting in late summer. My recent return to full-time work and cancer patient advocacy volunteerism has kept me steadily busy since early fall. Watch for a new blog update from me in the next few days.

The following is a guest post from cancer survivor David Haas who is a reader of my blog, and a writer of his own cancer blog. David’s sentiments are similar to mine, as I am a member of a breast cancer support group. The advice in David’s column is helpful to cancer patients and their caregivers.


Cancer Support Groups Can Really Help
By David Haas
Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Guest Blogger -
http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/

Anyone who has cancer, who is in remission or is going through cancer treatments, understands how traumatic and stressful this can be. Many people in these situations are afraid and confused about what to expect. While their friends and family are empathetic and loving, these people do not necessarily provide the information that the cancer survivor is seeking. The devastating effects of cancer often leave the people it strikes, at a loss about how to deal with the tremendous stress that these conditions cause. To make matters even worse, studies have shown that stress has a pronounced effect on how cancerous tumors grow and spread.

The American Institute of Stress indicates that people who get the emotional support they need have far less stress and are able to heal more rapidly. Less stress means a better ability to deal with the cancer. Emotional support can be from compassionates friends, family members, a doctor or from a patient advocacy or cancer support group. However, no one truly understands the devastating effects of cancer better than other people who are experiencing or have experienced the disease themselves. This is why cancer support groups are so highly recommended.

There are all kinds of cancer survivor networks on the Internet. These groups can be especially helpful if someone is experiencing a particular effect of a treatment that prevents him or her from leaving home. One need not be incapacitated to participate and enjoy online groups, however. Some people find it less stressful to use this modality to communicate.

Support groups that exist outside the Internet can help any cancer survivor gain knowledge about how to fight his or her disease, whether it manifests itself as mesothelioma, breast cancer, leukemia, or any other type of cancer. They can teach members about the negative (or positive) effects of the various treatments, and advocate for high quality health care.

Some support groups are peer moderated. This means that they are not run by members of the medical community, but rather are run by other cancer survivors who gather together to talk about their personal experiences and any new information they might have learned about.

There are also professionally moderated cancer support groups that are commonly found through hospitals. These are often run by doctors or psychologists. Both types of groups offer encouragement and psychological support, valuable information and opinions and direct accounts of personal experience, but most importantly, the opportunity for cancer survivors to experience a human connection and camaraderie.