Breast cancer support groups: Are they worth attending?

I attend a support group and have been for about a month now. I didn't know what to expect but I.

'm learning lots and the camaraderie with other BC ladies is priceless. I'm finished with treatment but we have ladies who are in treatment, recently finished treatment and even 5 year survivors in our group. I look forward to going every week.

I have attended a support group for 2 years now - ever since my diagnosis.  We meet twice a month - wish we met every week.

I love the support group.  I have learned more from the ladies there than I would have ever learned from my oncologist, radiologist etc.  The doctors don't remember to tell you everything but when you are in group you can ask questions and there is always someone that can share their experience.  '

We have all stages of ladies that attend.  Some women come once and you never see them again - it is too stressful for them.  We try to be very careful and not talk about reoccurences, Stage IV, etc. when the new ones first join but we do have a stage IV lady with bone mets, one with skin mets and another person that had a reoccurence 13 years after initial diagnosis so we are all over the place as far as treatments, how far out of treatment, etc.

I don't go there for support necessarily as much as I go to help the new ones that are starting this journey - I feel like I got so much support when I needed it that I want to play it forward and we have about 5 members that feel the exact same way so there is quite a bit of expertise within the group.

The other good thing is that if you are shy about posting questions here on BCO or another board - these are questions you can ask face to face.  Some people come here and just read and never post because they are too shy, scared, or whatever.  Having a face to face group to go to is so awesome in this type of situation.

We didn't have a support group in our city for breast cancer.  All other cancers, but nothing for breast.  My friend and I started one together and it is very receptive.  We have one lady in our group that is a 30 year survivor and another that is over 20. 

When we get together, we try to make it a fun and empowering evening.  There are some "newbies" in the group and we are there to answer questions and share our experiences, but we are also there to have fun.  We are trying to show these ladies that life do not end with a diagnoses of breast cancer, and to embrace each day as it comes.  It seems to be going over really well and our group is growing each month.  We are now up to 12 women and we hope to have more at our next meeting which is Monday night.  We meet once a month and sometimes I feel that we need to meet at least twice. 

Give it a try - I bet you will love it! 

I personally did not attend but they are available in the community and also at my oncologists office.  My "support group" is a lot with my spouse, who is wonderfully supportive, but also with several women at church who have been through this or are going through this now.  We share our experiences and feelings and it helps when someone can relate to how you feel.

I think it is a person decision.  Some people are private people and not comfortable sharing in groups with people they don't know well.  You can always try one and not attend more sessions if it doesn't work for you.

If anything the ladies that are Stage IV in our support group are the most helpful to everyone.  We have one that I just call smiles as she has this huge smile and lights up the room everytime she walks into it (she is the one with bone mets).  We get to clap and cheer when she tells us that she is in remission right now - great news!

It is the newbies that get scared to hear that someone is Stage IV - I guess they like most people that start this journey are flat out scared and "don't want to be like them".  So, yes....we do take it easy on the newbies and don't talk a bunch about the fact that we have several that have had reoccurences.  Actually one girl came - heard about it and left crying.  Ever since then we have tried to not be doom and gloom and more cheerful so that it is easiers on the newbies.  Besides we want them to come back!

We do have guest speakers - oncologists, radiologists, breast surgeons, etc. and it is wonderful because we can ask them loads of questions and we are hearing it directly from the experts.  We don't have guest speakers at every meeting, more like every third meeting and I do look forward to them coming.  Now if we can only get rid of the nutritionists who keep telling me to get off the coke and drink spinach and orange juice instead - I would be very happy! 

You might want to google - Image Reborn, Park City, Utah.  They have a free weekend retreat for any woman with BC.  They will reimburse up to $500 for air fare, pick you up at the airport, bring in a private chef, etc.  I went and it was wonderful!  We got to eat at a 5 star restaurant, free facials, massages, LE massages, etc.

Alpal there are three woman who are stage four that are in the support group I went to. It is a shame that your friend was excluded since segregating cancer stages is not what the group is supposed to be about.

I belong to a support group and attend meetings regularly. As I feel the need. You see meeting are a sense of strength for me. One I don't have to live in isolation and can get imformation when I am not sure of about what to do. I find people that share a common interest and that is recovery. Even more valuable is the loving friendship that are established once you feel you have connected with another individaul. Of course there will be problems when people are involved but I guess it depends on each persons level of maturity that determines whether they are getting what they need from the group. So yes if you feel comfortable meeting new people it's a great start. Onetoughwoman I will certainly would enjoy meeting you acquaintance and learning more about you as a person. Please continue to send me messages as you feel the need.

Looks like I have missed out on discussion acros the board; however I wanted to send out encoouragenment those that are struggling alone in silence. We ae here f you others tha eel you hav nowhere else to turn to. We care about youand ant to help you in our journey to recovery. To all we welcome you.