Need help & opinions on starting support group

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srfranklin
srfranklin Member Posts: 2
Hi! My name is Shannon and if you have time, I would like to take a little time to tell you about myself and get your advice. My mother was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic breast cancer January 30th. She was 52 years old. She died less than three months later. I am 23 years old and I have two younger sisters, 20 and 17. She was our only parent. Our dad left a while ago. The sad thing is that I just got married June 8th and my mom was supposed to walk me down the isle. Now, I am starting a new marriage and raising my 17 year old sister. It has been really tough moving on. I know that I am not the only one who is young and has lost a parent to breast cancer, but I feel like it. These last few months have been incredibly difficult and filled with mixed emotions. I am supposed to be strong for my sisters and happy about a wedding and at the same time I feel like I am falling apart. My friends have tried to help, but, to me, they cannot understand. They don't know what its like yet to loose their parent.

Now, Ill stop talking about myself, because the last thing I want is for people to feel sorry for me. The reason I am here writing is because through all these experiences in the last few months, I know that I cannot be the only one who has lost a parent to cancer at a young age. I would really like to start a support group for young people (27 and under) who have lost a parent to cancer. I know that they have school counselors and support systems for high schools and they may have networks through church, but I want to try and bring a group together who is young, who is going through the same thing, who can relate.

What I guess I am asking, is if you feel this would be something good to try and start or if this is a bad idea alltogether. (don't worry I can take criticism). If you do feel like it is a good idea, I was wondering if you could help me figure out how exactly I would start a support group like this. Where would I begin? Do you think people would come? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to read this lengthy message. Any advice for me would be good advice. Thank you.

Comments

  • CaliforniaKate
    CaliforniaKate Member Posts: 258
    edited July 2007

    Hi, you might start by contacting the American Red Cross. They may already have a survivors group. If not, you could ask them how you would go about starting one. I would imagine they would want you to have some kind of training, which maybe they could provide. I think what you are interested in doing is a great idea. Please come back and let us know how it all works out.

  • CalGal
    CalGal Member Posts: 469
    edited July 2007
    Hello SRF -

    You have so much on your shoulders for being so young ... and it really says a lot about you (good) that you're thinking of starting a support group with the particulars that you described along with dealing with everything else ...

    My sympathies on losing your mom young to bc so rapidly ... I lost my mom to bc at age 59, but she had a 13 yr battle ...

    I'd start with contacting some other organizations, including the Young Survival Coalition, the Wellness Community and the nearest comprehensive cancer center to you among others.

    The YSC is for women dx'd with bc prior to 40 ... and may have some rec'dtns for you. The Wellness Community started in Santa Monica, CA, but is national I believe .. they have many cancer support services for both the patient and their family. I tried their bc support group and under-40 (al types of) cancer group ... Now, I attend a "women with mets" group at my major comp cancer ctr. I've heard of groups for children of cancer patients too ... but I don't remember where that was ...

    Best to you,

    CalGal
  • iodine
    iodine Member Posts: 4,289
    edited July 2007

    Other places to contact would be Gilda's Clubs, and American Cancer Society.

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