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Cancer Support Groups

© Lauren Parthun

In this week's article I'm going to stray off the path of cancer. I want to talk about a subject equally important, perhaps more so. At least to me. I have no family close where I live, so my support and care depended on close friends, the hospital staff and, eventually, a women's cancer support group. My first experience with a cancer support group was with a mixed group: male, female and family members. It was early in my diagnosis as I look back today I know I wasn't ready for it at the time. It was a group of about twenty different types and stages of cancer patients. After a couple of meetings I couldn't handle the things I was hearing about cancer and its treatment. And it was hard finding out when someone had passed away.

Someone or something knew I needed more than I was getting or giving. My friends were great, very supportive. Yet, many of them didn't get it. I believe only a person with cancer gets it. OK, what do I mean by "it"? Friends usually are so positive around us and that's good most of the time. Sometimes we, or at least I and other that I've talked to, can't always be positive. There were times when I needed to vent all the anger, fears and negative feelings that I usually carried with me all the time.

Today I realize why people try to stay so positive or even deny what's going on. It's a persons own fear of the word CANCER. I know I felt that way too when my mother passed away. I also thought of cancer as a death sentence. When I found out I had cancer I was sure I was going to die. Somewhere along the way I learned cancer doesn't always have to mean death. And eventually I learned to accept my cancer and I was OK with whatever happened, even if it meant losing my battle with cancer. That is one of the reasons I wanted to write this article. I'm hoping to give you a little knowledge about the different cancers. But most importantly I want to share what I've gone through. And if I can help anyone even a little bit, my goal will be accomplished. For that I will be greatful.

My Women's Support Group

I would never have believed that a group of strangers would become so very important to me. I don't remember exactly when I met the hospital's gyn/oncology social worker. What I do remember is I didn't like her and didn't want her to be a part of my life. And she knew it. It took me a while to realize it wasn't her, it was all the professionals being thrown into my life so suddenly. I remember Gail B. and a social worker student of hers started a gyn support group because one of Gail's patients asked if the hospital had a group.