Support groups for cancer are helpful - Support from family and friends heals

Being full of uncertainty and fear, it did present a challenge.

But with the strong support of my family and friends, I found the strong burden lifted.

Before my treatments ever started, you can believe that I needed support. I was the only one who could possibly understand the things that were racing through my mind and the decisions that were facing me.

When one finds someone who shows some compassion and genuinely tries to understand; it's like finding a precious stone!

I really mean that; a person like that is helping to bring calmness and healing, even though they don’t realize it.

Support groups for cancer are one place where you can find some people like this. People who have never known each other finding some common ground and encouraging one another, and for a short time not even thinking about their problems.

The most precious stone I have is my wife and immediate family members.

They’ve been there every step of the way, early on and through the hardest times.

The hardest times I experienced were the treatments.

It was then that I needed more support than ever. Then, as the chemotherapy, major surgery and radiation began, times got really rough …and I know I wasn’t the easiest guy to live with during this time.

Still yet, they were there!

When the treatments were over, I never actually joined any conventional support groups for cancer.

What I did do, as one who was drawn towards alternative treatments, was find counselors who practiced healing by using nutritional whole foods as the best medicine. I actually did this before my conventional treatments ever started. I combined this with the conventional treatments and it has helped me to still be among other skin cancer survivors, 20 years later.

The alternative support that I found came from several counselors who all had little organized groups made up of people with various illnesses.

Through them I found my support groups for cancer. Some did have some type of cancer and others had various other health problems. The groups provided help for cancer patients and all the others as well.

It was a great source of strength for me.

Again I have to say, my greatest support came from my wife who has been there for me before any of the support groups for cancer and still is to this day. She spent many entire nights with me when I was hospitalized and would bring me great nutritious food that she prepared at home as I wouldn’t or couldn’t eat the hospital food.

I know that she needed support as well as I did and we both were dealing with stress. We both needed support.

She was put in the position of being a cancer caregiver, as well as a wife, and it all happened within one year after we were married and had our first child.

She’s a good woman and a strong woman. I’ll always appreciate how she stood up with me and I love her dearly for it.

From my perspective

I know that it’s not always easy to know what to do or say.

But do put some real thought into it. You may know the person very well as a spouse, brother, sister, father, mother, son or daughter. It is a time to put any differences aside and just love them.

Put your self in their place and LISTEN to them. When they have something to say, they want to be heard. If they sense you are not listening, it doesn’t help.

This is a time for you, as a caregiver, to put other things aside, stretch your self, and provide what they need. Love them.

They may want to ask for your help in some way, but find it difficult to ask. Try thoughtfully to offer suggestions of anything you can do to help.

Let them decide, don’t push them and LISTEN.

If it’s appropriate and you want to make plans with them for something in the future, that can be a positive thing. It can give the patient something to look forward to.

Be flexible and don’t force anything; it’s their decision.

Listen when they’re sad and discouraged. Just holding their hand can offer more than telling them “everything’s going to be fine”.

I'll soon have more support information to benefit them.

Do You Have A Story Of Support To Share?

YOU NEVER KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR THE VERY STORY THAT ONLY YOU CAN TELL.

If you are supporting someone with skin cancer, then you have experience, advice and encouragement to offer other supporters.

And if per chance, you are, or know somebody that is a skin cancer survivor, I invite you to Tell Your Story Here.

Tell Us Your "Support" Story

We often feel like we don't know what to say. You can help with your story.

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Go from Support Groups For Cancer to Home Page
Remember to Always Use Safety In The Sun