Cancer Support

Cancer Support
There is no question that a diagnosis of cancer throws a
person's life into crisis. Anxiety, sadness, anger, worry, and even
depression are all 'normal' responses. The most important thing to
remember when you face your diagnosis, deal with treatment and cope
with results, is that you are not alone. Studies have shown that
talking to others who understand or have been through your situation
can not only make you feel less upset, fearful or anxious, but it can
also help you focus on your health and treatment.

Cancer support groups are as varied as the people who participate in
them. And choosing one that's right for you depends on several factors.
Support groups bring together people with the same problem to share
emotional and moral support, plus practical information.

Depending on your circumstances and personality, it may be
beneficial to turn to others outside your immediate circle for help.
You may feel less alone with your illness when talking with others who
face (or have faced) similar challenges.

There also is some evidence that being involved in a support group
may increase cancer survival rates. A 1989 study by researchers at
Stanford University found that women with metastatic breast cancer who
were involved in a support group lived about 18 months longer and were
less depressed than those who didn't receive group support. Those
findings have yet to be duplicated and a follow-up study is underway.

In general, support groups fall into two main categories: those led
by professional facilitators (nurse, social worker, psychologist) and
those led by group members, which are often called peer or self-help
groups.

Some groups are designed to be more educational and structured. They
may invite a physician to give a talk on a new treatment. Others
emphasize emotional support and shared experience. Some deal only with
a specific type of cancer (e.g., breast, prostate, colon) and others
are more inclusive.

If you want to find out about 'face to face' or telephone counseling
and support groups, ask at your medical care center, call a local
cancer or community agency. Many churches and synagogues also run
support and/or bereavement groups, and most counseling services by
cancer agencies are free or on a sliding scale. Your insurance may also
cover private counseling - check you policy. Finally, of course, you
can call Cancer Care at 1-800-813-HOPE and speak with an oncology
social worker.

A summary study published in the February 17 '00 issue of the
Journal of the National Cancer Institute unequivocally stated that high
consumers of tomatoes and tomato products are at substantially
decreased risk of numerous cancers, although probably not all cancers.
The study analyzed 72 past studies that primarily examined the dietary
differences between people with cancer and those without. Some of these
studies also examined the blood levels of lycopene, a powerful
antioxidant found principally in tomatoes. Often the primary difference
was the consumption of tomatoes or tomato products, or high lycopene
levels in the blood. In 35 of the studies, the connection was strong
enough to be statistically significant, while in 15 the link was slight
or inconclusive.