Finding Support During Treatment for Oral Cancer
Dealing with your feelings is often easier as you learn more about the cancer and get support from others. Your health care team can answer your questions. Talking with friends and family or others who have had cancer can help. Meeting with a social worker, counselor, or member of the clergy also may help you talk about your feelings. Recognizing your feelings can help you cope with them and that in turn may help ease some of your symptoms and side effects. Pain, for instance, gets worse with stress. Many people with cancer go to support groups where they share what they’ve learned about cancer and its treatments. Here are some ways you may find support.1
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Talk with a nurse or social worker at your hospital or clinic. Ask them to suggest a local or national support group. Groups may offer emotional support, information, financial aid, transportation, home care, or other services.1
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Call the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237). They have information on resources.1
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Call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 (1-800-227-2345). This nonprofit organization helps patients and their families.2
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Call Support for People with Oral and Head and Neck Cancer (1-800-377-0928) for more resources and answers to your questions.3
1 “Cancer Support Groups: Questions and Answers.” National Cancer Institute. www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/support/support-groups Accessed 2008.
2 “Contact ACS.” American Cancer Society. www.cancer.org/asp/contactUs/cus_global.asp Accessed 2008.
3 “Resources!” Support for People with Oral and Head and Neck Cancer www.spohnc.org/resources.html#anchor153384 Accessed 2008.
Online Medical Reviewer:
Carr, Ellen RN, MSN, AOCN
Online Medical Reviewer:
Wirth, Lori MD
Date Last Reviewed:
10/11/2008
Date Last Modified:
10/11/2008