When you are faced with a diagnosis of mesothelioma cancer there are many resources are available for you and your family to benefit. You can seek for support from family and friends, as well as from health professionals, support groups, or your place of worship. Asking for support is one way you can feel in control of what’s going on in your life, your need for support is not a sign of weakness.
You feel lonely and abandoned. You may loose your desire to continue living . If your are not getting the much needed support from your friends and family then find others who can support you. There are probably others in your community who need your companionship as much as you need theirs. The mutual support of others with cancer might also be a source of comfort.You will probably need the support of different support groups to help you cope with the diagnosis of mesothelioma cancer.
What are different types of support groups?
There are different types and formats for support groups, there are individual, group counseling and support groups. Some support groups are formal and focus on learning about cancer or dealing with feelings. There are also less formal and more social groups. Some groups consist mainly of people with cancers or only caregivers, while others include spouses, family members, or friends. Other groups focus on certain types of cancer or stages of disease like mesothelioma cancer. Some groups have their meetings over a number of weeks while some others meet over a longer period of time. Some programs no longer accept new members while other groups are still open to new members.
Health professionals (a social worker, nurse, or other licensed professional), trained facilitators, or a group member may lead the group. The leader of a group should have some type of training before taking charge of a support group.
Telephone counseling groups
For those who cannot attend meetings or appointments, counseling over the telephone is offered by organizations such as Cancer Care, Inc. Some people may find online support groups helpful because they like the privacy. It may be comforting to chat with other people facing situations much like yours. But keep in mind that chat rooms and message boards are not the best source of cancer information, especially if they are not monitored by trained professionals or experts.
No matter what kind of group it is, everyone taking part should feel comfortable in the group and with the facilitator. If you have any fears or uncertainties before entering a group, try to discuss them with the group’s facilitator ahead of time.
Along with support programs, other means of support may be available in your community such as:
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