National Cancer Support Groups

Last Updated: Aug. 1, 2003

People diagnosed with cancer, and their families, face many challenges that may leave them feeling overwhelmed, afraid and alone. It can be difficult to cope with these challenges or to talk to even the most supportive family members and friends. Often, support groups can help people affected by cancer feel less alone and can improve their ability to deal with the uncertainties and challenges that cancer brings. Support groups give people who are affected by similar diseases an opportunity to meet and discuss ways to cope with the illness.

Doctors, nurses, or hospital social workers who work with cancer patients also may have information about support groups, such as their location, size, type, and how often they meet. Most hospitals have social services departments that provide information about cancer support programs. Additionally, many newspapers carry a special health supplement containing information about where to find support groups.

Many groups are free, but some require a fee (people can contact their health insurance company to find out whether their plan will cover the cost). It is important for people to find an atmosphere that is comfortable and meets their individual needs.

Cancer Information Service
Call toll-free: 1–800–4–CANCER (1–800–422–6237)
TTY (for deaf and hard of hearing callers): 1–800–332–8615
Website: http://www.cancer.gov

LiveHelp
Cancer Information Specialists offer online assistance through the LiveHelp link on the NCI’s Web site.

Gilda’s Club
Opening in metro-Milwaukee in fall 2003
4050 North Oakland Avenue, Shorewood, Wis. (414) 962-8201

The Gilda’s Club program is founded on life, living, and Gilda Radner’s legacy of laughter. This identity is embedded in its core and serves as a beacon for anyone touched by cancer, as well as for those who care about them.

The mission of Gilda’s Club is to provide meeting places where men, women and children living with cancer and their families and friends can join with others to build emotional and social support as a supplement to medical care. Free of charge and nonprofit, Gilda’s Club offers support and networking groups, lectures, workshops and social events in a nonresidential, homelike setting.

Gilda’s Club at 4050 North Oakland Avenue in Shorewood will be the first one in Wisconsin. It is scheduled to begin offering support groups in September 2003 and the grand opening is planned for November.

For more information about programs, call Gail Johnson at (414) 962-8201.

Gilda’s Club Online
Website: www.gildasclub.org

Gilda’s Club Worldwide also will launch Gilda’s Club Online in 2003, a virtual clubhouse for people who don’t live near a bricks-and-mortar Clubhouse.

Gilda’s Club Online will be a unique Internet-based delivery system for emotional and social support that will make such support, provided under the supervision of trained professionals and volunteers, broadly accessible to anyone touched by cancer.

Vital Options® International TeleSupport® Cancer Network
15821 Ventura Blvd., Suite 645
Encino, CA 91436-2946
Phone: (818) 788-5225
E-mail: info@vitaloptions.org

Vital Options is a not-for-profit cancer communications, support and advocacy organization whose mission is to facilitate a global cancer dialogue by using communications technology to reach every person touched by cancer. Vital Options: Support For Young Adults With Cancer was originally founded in 1983 as the first organization for young adults with cancer and now in addition to serving as a resource for this special patient population, Vital Options provides a variety of cancer communications projects for patients of all ages and disease types, as well as for their families, friends and healthcare providers. In particular, The Group Room radio show, which is a weekly syndicated cancer talk show that is simulcast on the World Wide Web and XM Satellite.

Cancer Hope Network
Phoen: 1–877–467–3638 (1–877–HOPENET)
Website: www.cancerhopenetwork.org

The Cancer Hope Network provides individual support to cancer patients and their families by matching them with trained volunteers who have undergone and recovered from a similar cancer experience. Such matches are based on the type and stage of cancer, treatments used, side effects experienced, and other factors.

To learn about local cancer support groups, read the article "CSM Support Groups" or click here.

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