Support Groups

ptharp
ptharp Member Posts: 190
in Ovarian Cancer #1
Today I am going to a support group at the Patrick Demspey Center for Hope and Healing. I sure hope it is a possitive experience and does not make me more stressed out. I was told it was a good idea and they help.

Comments

  • txtrisha55
    txtrisha55 Member Posts: 693 Member
    #2
    Hoping that the support
    Hoping that the support group helps you. I have heard they help too but I have never gone to one as I do not like to talk about my feelings in a public setting. But that is me and I know this about myself. Hopefully it helps you. trish
  • kikz
    kikz Member Posts: 1,345 Member
    #3
    txtrisha55 said:

    Hoping that the support
    Hoping that the support group helps you. I have heard they help too but I have never gone to one as I do not like to talk about my feelings in a public setting. But that is me and I know this about myself. Hopefully it helps you. trish

    I attended a few
    meetings of the support group that went along with the LiveStrong/LiveWell program. She had a topic for each week and then open discussion. It was interesting and I felt comfortable with the group. We talked about things we might not feel like discussing with family. One man divulged that he and his wife had divorced many years ago because she cheated. They remarried and are still together. The weird part is that she started coming with him to our hikes. I felt strange knowing such intimate information about their marriage. I don't know if he felt awkward that he had told us.

    When I finished chemo I went to a therapist I had seen before for some personal drama. I had heard that there is sometimes a letdown feeling once treatment is over and some people get depressed. I am not a person who gets depressed easily but thought it wouldn't hurt to use up the 6 free sessions I had from my work before I retired.

    I have never really felt like I wanted to attend any other support groups. I guess I envision people crying or being angry. I don't want to be in negative situations. If I ever have the need to talk to someone, I will see the same therapist. She helped me so much with other things.


    Karen
  • ptharp
    ptharp Member Posts: 190
    #4
    kikz said:

    I attended a few
    meetings of the support group that went along with the LiveStrong/LiveWell program. She had a topic for each week and then open discussion. It was interesting and I felt comfortable with the group. We talked about things we might not feel like discussing with family. One man divulged that he and his wife had divorced many years ago because she cheated. They remarried and are still together. The weird part is that she started coming with him to our hikes. I felt strange knowing such intimate information about their marriage. I don't know if he felt awkward that he had told us.

    When I finished chemo I went to a therapist I had seen before for some personal drama. I had heard that there is sometimes a letdown feeling once treatment is over and some people get depressed. I am not a person who gets depressed easily but thought it wouldn't hurt to use up the 6 free sessions I had from my work before I retired.

    I have never really felt like I wanted to attend any other support groups. I guess I envision people crying or being angry. I don't want to be in negative situations. If I ever have the need to talk to someone, I will see the same therapist. She helped me so much with other things.


    Karen

    Karen...the center also has
    Karen...the center also has therapists too. I may look into that. The group went ok. Mostly Breast Cancer people. For the most part I was pleased with the group except this one girl. She says to me "so what did the doctor say about your survival?" I said to her he did not say and I do not want to know and walked away. I could not belive she said that. Once I heard her talk about herself I then could believe it. I will go to a couple more and see how it goes. At least it got me out of the house.
  • khsherwood
    khsherwood Member Posts: 33 Member
    #5
    support groups
    Hi, I am from Maine too. I have heard wonderful things about the Patrick Dempsey center although I have never been there. Support groups are not for everyone. Each group has it's own dynamics. At least you are trying and as you said it gets you out of the house. Maybe you will meet some people that you will really like there and you can meet for coffe or lunch outside the group? I know that they have lots of other programs too besides support groups.
    I am a volunteer at the cancer resource center at MCCM on the road to Midcoast Hospital in Brunswick. We have a women's cancer support group here too. If you are near Brunswick, maybe that one would work for you.
    When I had breast cancer 13 years ago i went to support groups and I think it helped.
    of course, you always have this board to talk to other survivors. Good luck, Kelly
  • ptharp
    ptharp Member Posts: 190
    #6
    khsherwood said:

    support groups
    Hi, I am from Maine too. I have heard wonderful things about the Patrick Dempsey center although I have never been there. Support groups are not for everyone. Each group has it's own dynamics. At least you are trying and as you said it gets you out of the house. Maybe you will meet some people that you will really like there and you can meet for coffe or lunch outside the group? I know that they have lots of other programs too besides support groups.
    I am a volunteer at the cancer resource center at MCCM on the road to Midcoast Hospital in Brunswick. We have a women's cancer support group here too. If you are near Brunswick, maybe that one would work for you.
    When I had breast cancer 13 years ago i went to support groups and I think it helped.
    of course, you always have this board to talk to other survivors. Good luck, Kelly

    I live in Bethel. I think
    I live in Bethel. I think Brunswick is further for me. Do you have Ovarian Cancer now?
  • ptharp
    ptharp Member Posts: 190
    #7
    khsherwood said:

    support groups
    Hi, I am from Maine too. I have heard wonderful things about the Patrick Dempsey center although I have never been there. Support groups are not for everyone. Each group has it's own dynamics. At least you are trying and as you said it gets you out of the house. Maybe you will meet some people that you will really like there and you can meet for coffe or lunch outside the group? I know that they have lots of other programs too besides support groups.
    I am a volunteer at the cancer resource center at MCCM on the road to Midcoast Hospital in Brunswick. We have a women's cancer support group here too. If you are near Brunswick, maybe that one would work for you.
    When I had breast cancer 13 years ago i went to support groups and I think it helped.
    of course, you always have this board to talk to other survivors. Good luck, Kelly

    I live in Bethel. I think
    I live in Bethel. I think Brunswick is further for me. Do you have Ovarian Cancer now?
  • ConnieSW
    ConnieSW Member Posts: 1,678 Member
    #8
    ptharp said:

    I live in Bethel. I think
    I live in Bethel. I think Brunswick is further for me. Do you have Ovarian Cancer now?

    Off subject
    Oops
  • ConnieSW
    ConnieSW Member Posts: 1,678 Member
    #9
    ptharp said:

    I live in Bethel. I think
    I live in Bethel. I think Brunswick is further for me. Do you have Ovarian Cancer now?

    Off subject
    Ptharp, my husband and I stop in Bethel for lunch and a walk to stretch our legs every year when we are on our way to vacation on Monhegan. You have a lovely, friendly town. I'll be thinking about you when we pass through next July, God willing.

    Connie from the uterine board
  • Glad to be done
    Glad to be done Member Posts: 569
    #10
    ConnieSW said:

    Off subject
    Oops

    Connie I know where monhegan
    Connie I know where monhegan island is. We live in NY but my husband is from Maine so we vacation there on the coast every year. We stay in New Harbor in the pemeqid pt area. There is actually a boat that leaves for a day trip to Monhegan island from new harbor
  • khsherwood
    khsherwood Member Posts: 33 Member
    #11
    Glad to be done said:

    Connie I know where monhegan
    Connie I know where monhegan island is. We live in NY but my husband is from Maine so we vacation there on the coast every year. We stay in New Harbor in the pemeqid pt area. There is actually a boat that leaves for a day trip to Monhegan island from new harbor

    ok now
    Hi, I am responding a little late because I usually only read this once a week. The answer is that I an NED (no evidence of disease). I had ovarian cancer, caught very early, three years ago. I just went for my check-up a couple of weeks ago and everything is ok. I will still have to go back in six months for another check-up. My CA-125
    has only gone up one point since my last visit. Nothing to worry about.
    Bethel is far from here but as the others have said it is beautiful. There is a women's cancer support group up in the Bar Harbor/ Ellsworth area that has some great programs too. I am on their email list because I was thinking about going to a weekend retreat up there last year. It was just for Ovarian cancer survivors. I didn't go because I had another commitment but it sounded nice. It was held in a hotel in Bar Harbor in September. This year it was held at a summer camp in October. You know the type, wooden unheated cabins in a beautiful setting on the water. There was a big emphasis on outdoor sports. I have very severe arthritis that has come upon me in the past year or so. Although I love sports, especially kayaking and swimming ,the arthritis has limited my range of motion, making it impossible to do those things right now. Otherwise I would have love to have gone to it. It is called the Beth Wright Center.Check it out online. Sometime we should get all these people online who are survivors and do something like that. And, yes, I believe that you are a survivor as soon as you are diagnosed.


    ok, TMI. Stay in touch, Kelly

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