Talk to a Social Worker

Professionally trained oncology social workers can provide emotional support through individual counseling, help in understanding how to communicate with your health care team, information about local resources, education about cancer, treatment side effects, quality of life issues, end of life concerns, talking to children about cancer, financial concerns and more.

Join a Support Group:

• Professionals such as psychologists, social workers, or nurses, lead some groups, which are usually called therapy groups. Group members lead some groups, which are usually called peer or self-help groups.
• Some groups are limited to a certain number of weeks, while others are ongoing.
• Some groups are composed of people with the same type of cancer, while others are composed of people who are undergoing the same kind of treatment.
• Some groups are educational and/or structured with speakers, while others are informal emphasizing emotional support and shared experience.
• Some meetings are drop-ins with a cancer survivor serving as coordinator, while others have a class format that teaches coping skills.
• Some groups are just for patients, while others are for spouses, family members and/or friends.
• There are some alternative group formats that are best suited for people with mobility restrictions, such as online Internet support groups, e-mail discussion groups and telephone support groups. In these cases, it is important to look for groups affiliated with a reputable organization and/or hosted by a trained professional.

No matter what kind of group you choose, it should be guided by a skilled facilitator.

Get Information from Educational Programs

• The American Cancer Society’s “I Can Cope Program.” This program offers this educational program for people with cancer, their families and friends. The program includes physicians, nurses, social workers and other health care professionals who discuss issues related to cancer.
• CancerCare ^® Education Programs.  CancerCare ^® , an organization operated by trained oncology social workers is ^the oldest and largest nonprofit agency dedicated to helping people face the many challenges of a cancer diagnosis, has educational programs available to help. They include:
• On-site Education. Review our month-by-month schedule of the FREE workshops, clinics, and seminars for people with cancer, their families, and caregivers taking place in CancerCare’s New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut offices.
• Cancer Care has developed a number of one to two page informational pieces that discuss how to cope with the common challenges of cancer in general, along with disease specific information. View a listing of our briefs in this section.
• Telephone Education Programs . Cancer Care Telephone Education Programs are popular and easy ways for people all over the country (and the world) to get up to date information about cancer and cancer related topics from the experts over the phone. Our live programs have anywhere from 200 to over 1000 participants, and over 1000 people per month listen to previously recorded telephone education programs here on our web site. For more information about CancerCare call 1-800-813-HOPE (4773) or visit www.cancercare.org

Sources: The American Cancer Society and CancerCare

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