Support groups are very beneficial for lung cancer patients, who can often feel isolated because of the stigma of lung cancer, says Carly Ornstein, national director of lung cancer education at the American Lung Association. “[A support group] can greatly improve your quality of life and make you feel you are not alone.”
The National Cancer Institute says the No. 1 reason people join a support group is to be with others who are going through a similar cancer experience. In fact, some research shows that joining a support group improves both quality of life and survival.
[See: 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Lung Cancer.]
If you’re navigating the challenges of a lung cancer diagnosis, you may find that support groups provide a wealth of knowledge and resources you can’t find anywhere else. It’s one thing to get accurate disease and treatment information from your doctor. It’s quite another to glean tips for coping and dealing with the emotional and psychological stress from others who are going through the same experience.
Diane Robinson, a neuropsychologist and program director of cancer support community/integrative medicine at UFHealth Cancer Center Orlando Health, says humans can cope well physiologically with short-term stress. However, being diagnosed with cancer becomes a stressor that stays with you for a long time. “Because cancer has now become a chronic condition,” Robinson says, “patients are living longer [with cancer], coping with the consequences longer. The long-term consequences of chronic stress impacts every aspect of your life, day in and day out. If you don’t have a coping strategy, stress can damage your body.”
Support groups can help provide an effective way for patients to cope with this stress. Sharing common experiences and learning from others can also help patients see things from a different perspective.
Robinson says support groups help prevent unwanted aloneness, that feeling that no one around you — no matter how loving or supportive — can understand what it’s like to face a life-threatening illness. “If you to go to a support group, people understand and are right there. [With support groups], no one faces cancer alone.”
[See: How Social Workers Help Your Health.]
Finding the Right Support Group
Fortunately, there are many types of support groups, so you’re sure to find one that’s right for you. Ask your doctor or a member of your cancer care team about support groups at your hospital or cancer center. The American Lung Association and other advocacy organizations offer online and in-person groups. You can also find groups on social media that aren’t affiliated with a particular organization.
Ornstein says some patients are in more than one group. “Each group gives patients different things,” she says. “Try different options, and see what fits. It’s important to find groups of people facing the same type of cancer [as you]. You don’t have the same set of issues with different cancers.”
The American Lung Association’s Inspire Lung Cancer Survivor group is an active, robust online community for people living with lung cancer and other lung diseases, Ornstein says. “Often patients don’t feel well enough to leave the house, so online support groups are helpful.” She says the Inspire platform provides a wealth of knowledge for patients around the country who are in all stages of the disease. “If you’re facing something,” she says, “someone on the site has gone through it and can provide feedback.”
Support groups aren’t just for patients. Family members and caregivers face their own stress and anxiety, as well, and support groups can help them navigate their unique challenges.
You can also find support groups to help you successfully quit smoking. Even if you’ve already been diagnosed with lung cancer, it’s not too late to quit. In fact, quitting smoking can improve the effectiveness of your cancer treatment and significantly improve your prognosis.
There are few downsides to support groups. However, Ornstein says that cancer patients do die, and it can be very emotional to connect with people who may not return — especially in an in-person support group.
[See: 14 Ways Caregivers Can Care for Themselves.]
If you decide to attend, she says to try not to be embarrassed if you have a question or concern: “Someone else has felt it or experienced it.” Use the support group for whatever you need: answers to questions, guidance, encouragement. “It doesn’t always have to be sad or depressing,” Ornstein says. “People share hopeful things, as well.”
Know that’s OK to come and go from your groups. It’s a wonderful thing just knowing someone is there for you, Ornstein says. “Reach out, and chances are, it will help you feel better.”
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Support Groups for Lung Cancer originally appeared on usnews.com
