Community Corner
Breast Cancer Patients, Survivors Get Help from Support Groups Locally, Online
A number of cancer groups provide support for both women and men.
Full support or light support – breast cancer groups offer up all sizes.
Traditional support groups find participants sitting in a circle sharing stories, struggles and advice. But breast cancer patients and survivors can find comfort and help in many ways and in many places, both in person and online.
Major breast cancer websites have online discussion groups where people may connect, get tips or share advice for coping with treatments and side effects. Among our favorites:
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In Prince George's County, the health department hosts free breast cancer screenings and a breast cancer support group twice a month, while there are churches like the First Baptist Church of Highland Park that hosts screenings and support groups as well.
Plenty of information, such as “what to do the day of surgery,” is readily available. Some of these major websites also have thousands of discussion boards, many of them splintering into local meet-ups.
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“Support groups help validate your experience,” said Selma Schimmel, founder of Vital Options International, a cancer communications and advocacy organization. She is also a breast cancer survivor and author of the book, “Cancer Talk.”
Schimmel believes breast cancer patients who attend support groups have an easier time and survive longer because they get positive energy and up-to-date information during what can be an emotional tidal wave. Groups are a great place to learn about side effects, clinical trials and trends with treatment, she said.
Specialized support groups are also plentiful. Mothers Support Daughters with Breast Cancer was founded in 1995 by mom Charmayne Dierker and daughter Lillie Shockney in Washington, DC. Their organization, which has local resources, has helped more than 10,000 women.
Men Against Breast Cancer offers online resources to men who want to support women in their lives with breast cancer. Survivors are the heart of another group, SHARE, which offers support to women in and around New York City who have been diagnosed with breast cancer or ovarian cancer.