Get Support During Treatment ... Health Article

Dealing with feelings will get easier the more you learn about your disease. Asking for support from others will help, too. Ask your doctors, nurses, and other health professionals when you have questions. A social worker, psychologist or psychiatrist, or clergyman may also be a good person to talk with. Friends and family can help if you tell them what’s on your mind. It’s also helpful to get in touch with others who have had cancer. In support groups, people share what they have learned about cancer and its treatments. Here are some other ways to find support.

• Ask a nurse or social worker at your hospital or clinic to suggest a local or national group. Say what you are looking for. It may be emotional support. It may be information or financial aid. You could need transportation, home care, or other services.

• Call the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service. The number is 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237). They can help you find resources.

• Call the American Cancer Society (ACS). The number is 1-800-ACS-2345 (1-800-227-2345). The ACS is a nonprofit group that helps people with cancer and their families.