Your experience - Support groups?

RaveOn

Greetings, all - today marks one week with one breast, I am now cancer free with no chemo and no radiation.

I'm wondering about finding a support group here in DC. I am emotionally raw and trying to live in the moment, but as each day wears on I get real pissed off about pain that doesn't stop and muscles that cease up. Mostly I bark at my husband then feel bad.

I'm pretty sure I need a support group, but I've heard mixed reviews - anyone care to comment?

TIA,
Rave

chenheart

Have you contacted your local ACS office? That is a great place to start! As far as groups go, the bulletin boards at my oncologist's office waiting room are chock full of info about groups. And BC seems to be the largest group represented. You might want be able to find something similar...even if you do not have to go through chemo and/or radiation. Good For You, btw! That is wonderful!!!!
Mixed reviews about support? I think it is all about finding the right group, something that suits you, your personality and your changing needs. Much like a book club.
And, if there is no group, or you are looking for something more specific, again, as with book clubs~ Start Your Own!! You might be just what others are looking for!

Hugs and Good Luck!
Claudia

seof

I agree with Chenhart. People are individuals. For example, I have found this site to be extremely helpful, but another survivor I know avoids sites like this like a plague. So far I have not felt the need to find or start a group to talk to face-to-face because of this site, and several survivors who are members of my church, but I think I would seek out such a group if I did not have the church support. I think someone to talk to about the emotions that go along with all the stuff you are going through would be good. If nothing else, you know that you are not the only one who has responses like yours.

I had a double Mastectomy on 12/21/07, and I understand the impatience with the tight muscles and pain. It does get better!

Best wishes, seof

manna1qd

call the acs and your local hospitals for groups, then go and try them. They have different characteristics. I couldn't find one that worked for me when I was first diagnosed. I wish I had this site then because this is what I really needed. I needed to talk with other women in my shoes and then some who were way past where I was. You get what you need, when you need it here. The plus about a local group is you have face to face relationships and that's worth something. Also, I called Y-me to talk when I was a bit of a basket case. Good luck.

survivor51

Hey Rave, It is good to talk. I found something that helped right after my surgery that took both my "girls" was to take a hand towel and get it wet. Put it in the microwave for 1 minute and place on the area(s). Have your hubby put another one in the microwave and swap out a few times. It released the painl. Also, plenty of showers with hot water on the area. In the shower, I slowly moved my arm using my finger tips to climb the wall. That helped me with movement and I can move both arms freely now over my head and to fasten my bra. Now on to the emotional steps. Give yourself time TIME. Use us even at 2am. Vent, talk, cry, journal and share. You are definitely not alone. Feel free to click the email button below my message and email me. Take care.

KathiM

Other than here, I am only in a very, very loose support group that meets once a month for lunch. That's it...we all introduce ourselves, but it's more just socializing...and support when something goes amiss, but no more than diverse friends would be....

Hugs, kathi

KathiM

KathiM said:

Other than here, I am only in a very, very loose support group that meets once a month for lunch. That's it...we all introduce ourselves, but it's more just socializing...and support when something goes amiss, but no more than diverse friends would be....

Hugs, kathi

Oh, and as far as barking at hubby...we all do that, it's not fair, but well, as long as you share with him what you are feeling, and give him hug time when possible, and listen when he is going thru heck (caregivers do, too...they wonder where the person went that they married...lol!), you both can emerge stronger and closer.

Hugs, kathi

3cbrca

Congratualations- I'm living in the Minneapolis St. Paul area. I've have "cobbled together" soome onderful post treatment providers and in the process meeting other survivors. One of the groups I work with is a Group that has worked so hard to bring Gilda's Club to the Twin Cites. I see that there is a group in D.C. doing the same thing. Here's there webpage http://www.gildasclubgreaterwashington.org/
They look like they are still in the development stages as they are in Mpls/St. Paul, but I contacted the board of Directors when i was first diagnosed and offered to do whatever I could to help because we need the kind of support that they offer. Now I am one of the voices for survivors. The doors may not be open yet, but there are plenty of people working on helping those that are living with cancer (that includes your family and friend traveling this journey with you. I think ACS is another good place - they should have a listing for your area. Support in all its forms, hypnotism, physchologit, massage, excercise for br cancer survivors are helping me so much. The people i have with me not only heal but bring great laughter. My bigget joy.
Hope this help - there are so many things that can be done that make living with cancer easier - Sometimes it takes a lot of research and traveling around the metro to find the groups and individuals that works for you. What I'm finding is that now that I have a "team of post-treatment" together the quality of my life is vastly improved.
Hope this helps.
She

Unknown

Hang in there things will improve---congratulations on being a survivor! I had a lumpectomy in April o6 and have been struggling with worrying about recurrance. And sometimes just the fact that I had cancer at all is very stressful to think about, so I joined a breast cancer support group at Gilda's Club. It only had 1-2 others attend each week and it was'nt really helping. Last week I joined a group at my local Breast Cancer Coallition and this time I found a good fit! There are 8-10 members that come each week, everyone is very kind and there are women that are closer to my own age(44). It is very comforting to be around survivors--I'm not sure why, maybe its just because you don't ever feel the same after cancer and being with other who have had cancer gives you a sense of belonging, hope, and support. Look into a breast cancer coallition or Gilda's club in your area and give a group a try. I also find comfort in spending time in the chat rooms on this site---everyone is super nice and supportive. Good luck! Eileen

cabbott

I live in nearby Delaware. The folks at Johns Hopkins lined me up with a Wellness Community support group that just happened to be three miles from my house. They were free and designed to support cancer survivors and their families (hubbies and kids)with the emotional stress cancer diagnosis brings. I was very impressed. You have a Wellness Community in DC. Here is the website link: http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org/dc/ . I also found support groups at my local hospital (very medically oriented) and the local breast cancer coalition (very much into prevention and treatment for low income women). I had to go a few times to each to decide what I liked. Right now, the internet support here fits the bill, but soon after surgery I needed the face-to-face group. The Relay for Life is a once a year fling, but a great place to find support from folks who have been there too!