| People who find out they have cancer find | | | | It can feel really good to talk to other people |
| themselves having a wide range of emotions | | | | experiencing the same thing as you and share |
| including shock, anger, denial and fear. It is a very | | | | your feelings honestly and openly. Your friends |
| stressful experience for anyone. A lot of people | | | | and family are probably more than happy to listen |
| prefer to hold their emotions inside rather than | | | | to your fears and concerns about your cancer |
| talk about their feelings but some really do need | | | | but sometimes a cancer support group is better |
| to share how they are feeling with others. | | | | because they can relate to your experiences and |
| It can be very important for someone with | | | | provide support that your friends and family can't. |
| cancer to talk about their feelings and their | | | | This is just like someone who is experiencing |
| experiences with people going through the same | | | | emotional issues choosing to talk to a qualified |
| thing as them. Attending a cancer support group | | | | psychologist who has no preconceptions about |
| lets you share your experience with people who | | | | you about their problems as opposed to just |
| understand where you are coming from. You will | | | | calling a friend or family member to talk about |
| feel less isolated and be able to accept and deal | | | | their feelings and their issues. |
| with your disease if you get your feelings out in | | | | Cancer support groups provide an opportunity for |
| the open. You can learn about how other people | | | | cancer patients to be open and honest and to get |
| are facing their disease and share your treatment | | | | support from people experiencing the same thing |
| methods with them. | | | | as them. You can cry, be angry or give advice to |
| Cancer support groups exist for the different | | | | others at the cancer support group meetings |
| kinds of cancer and there are also groups that | | | | depending on how you are feeling and no one will |
| help people who have family members with | | | | judge you. |
| cancer deal with their feelings and their fears. If | | | | It is very helpful for people with a variety of |
| you prefer, you can join a virtual cancer support | | | | problems to attend support group meetings so |
| group over the Internet. A lot of people prefer | | | | they can talk about their experiences in a |
| the anonymity of this as opposed to meeting with | | | | comfortable and safe environment. Cancer |
| strangers in person and talking about their | | | | support groups give cancer patients a place to let |
| experiences with cancer. The online cancer | | | | it all out and to get support and help from people |
| support groups are more flexible with regards to | | | | who have been or are in the same situation as |
| time. | | | | them. |