One of the most important considerations in choosing a support group -- whether online or in person -- is to find one with members whose situations closely match your own. Nothing is more likely to send a woman with early-stage breast cancer reeling than sitting in on a group with women who don't expect to survive their illness.
The good news is that a variety of groups are available from which to choose. "There are some groups designed for women with certain characteristics, like metastatic disease, or younger women who feel they don't fit with the general population of women with breast cancer, which is generally an older demographic," Brown says.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Wednesday, October 05, 2011 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 4 News Desk 3 inches; 112 words Type of Material: Correction
Breast cancer: An Oct. 3 Health section article about treatment and social support for people with breast cancer gave the wrong website address for the Cancer Support Community. The correct URL is www.cancersupportcommunity.org. The article also said the Cancer Support Community was formerly known as Gilda's Club. The Cancer Support Community is a union between the Wellness Community and Gilda's Club Worldwide. Additionally, the article said the website for the Wellness Community is twcvv.org; that website is for the Wellness Community Valley/Ventura, now a local affiliate of the Cancer Support Community. Also, in one instance the article referred to Susan G. Komen for the Cure as Susan B. Komen for the Cure.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Monday, October 10, 2011 Home Edition Health & Wellness Part E Page 2 Features Desk 3 inches; 110 words Type of Material: Correction
Breast cancer: An Oct. 3 Health section article about treatment and social support for people with breast cancer gave the wrong website address for the Cancer Support Community. It is www.cancersupportcommunity.org. The article also said the Cancer Support Community was formerly known as Gilda's Club. The Cancer Support Community is a union between the Wellness Community and Gilda's Club Worldwide. Additionally, the article said the website for the Wellness Community is twcvv.org; that website is for the Wellness Community Valley/Ventura, now a local affiliate of the Cancer Support Community. Also, in one instance the article referred to Susan G. Komen for the Cure as Susan B. Komen for the Cure.
There are groups for the newly diagnosed, designed primarily for disseminating information about cancer and helping women understand what to expect. These tend to be short-term in nature.
Others are there to provide ongoing emotional support. Many are run by mental health professionals, such as clinical social workers or nurses who understand breast cancer and are trained to facilitate groups and expertly help members address their emotions.
If you decide to seek support online, Loew suggests looking for communities that place a premium on members' ability to control their privacy settings. But he advises against ones that allow total anonymity. Though you shouldn't have to use your real name, members should be required to have a persistent identity. That tends to keep people on their best behavior and also allows members to connect individually with others using the site.
Online moderators -- individuals trained to make sure things run smoothly and that all members are supported and nobody is abusive -- are another important feature.
There are many resources available to help breast cancer patients connect with support of one kind or another.
* The American Cancer Society offers a wide range of support services, including its Reach to Recovery program, which provides one-on-one support by trained volunteers. You can find a program in your area by contacting the organization through its website (cancer.org) or by phone: (800) 227-2345.
* Susan B. Komen for the Cure helps people locate support groups in their community as well. Call (877) GO-KOMEN or go online ( ww5 .komen.org/).
* The Cancer Support Community, formerly known as Gilda's Club, offers online and in-person support for cancer patients ( gildas club.org).
* Cancer Care offers free professional support ( can cercare.org), and the Wellness Community ( twcvv.org) as well as Simms/Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology ( www.simms manncenter.ucla.edu) also offer a range of support services to breast cancer patients.
* Online social networking sites are plentiful too. Check out Inspire.com, Pa tientslikeme.com and Cure Together.com.
* Finally, most cancer foundations have a Facebook page and are on Twitter.
You may need to try several groups before finding the right one -- but don't give up.
"We know from the literature that there are real quality-of-life benefits from social support," Brown says. "Be proactive and continue to try until you find that good place."
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