How to Find an Ovarian Cancer Support Group

Ovarian cancer is a malignancy that affects women's ovaries. For those who have ovarian cancer, joining a support group of other women who have gone through the treatments and experienced their side effects can be extremely beneficial and very comforting. Your support group may be able to provide a level of understanding that nobody else in your life can quite match, no matter how well meaning your friends and family might be.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Email account
• Computer with Internet access

Consider the Benefits of Ovarian Cancer Support Groups

1. Share experiences regarding treatment and learn about treatment options or medications you might not be familiar with.

2. Feel hopeful being surrounded by other people who have experienced and survived the same things you have experienced.

3. Manage your feelings by sharing them with people who feel the same way as you do.

4. Consider an electronic support group where you can meet with other ovarian cancer patients via Internet chat rooms or over email.

5. Realize that there are just as many support groups for your family and friends as there are for you. Often these are specialized for spouses or children of cancer patients.

Find an Ovarian Cancer Support Group Near You

6. Speak to your doctor or other healthcare team members or ask at your medical facility about ovarian cancer support groups affiliated with the hospital.

7. Be willing to attend a general cancer support group if an ovarian cancer-specific group is not available.

8. Search on the Internet for support groups through online resources such as the American Cancer Society's Cancer Survivor's Network (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Ask your doctor if there are ovarian cancer patients he or she knows who would be willing to start a cancer support group if there are none available near you.
• Realize that your medical insurance is probably responsible for costs incurred during follow-up care after your cancer treatments are completed.
• Consider attending a support group organized by a mental health professional to address any emotional issues you may be experiencing due to your treatments or experiences with ovarian cancer.

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