Sources of Support
Living with a serious disease such as stomach cancer is not easy. You may worry
about caring for your family, keeping your job, or continuing daily activities.
Concerns about treatments and managing side effects, hospital stays, and
medical bills are also common. Doctors, nurses, and other members of your
health care team can answer questions about treatment, working, or other
activities. Meeting with a social worker, counselor, or member of the clergy
also can be helpful if you want to talk about your feelings or concerns. Often,
a social worker can suggest resources for financial aid, transportation, home
care, or emotional support.
Support groups also can help. In these groups, patients or their family members
meet with other patients or their families to share what they have learned
about coping with the disease and the effects of treatment. Groups may offer
support in person, over the telephone, or on the Internet. You may want to talk
with a member of your health care team about finding a support group.
Information Specialists at 1-800-4-CANCER and at
LiveHelp (http://www.cancer.gov/cis)
can help you locate programs, services, and publications. For a list of
organizations offering support, you may want to get the NCI fact sheet
"National Organizations That Offer Services to People With Cancer and Their
Families." For tips on coping, you may want to read the NCI booklet
Taking Time: Support for People With Cancer and the People Who Care About Them.
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