Emotional Support
Very little can prepare you for the shock of hearing that you have cancer and one of the most difficult things for most of us is beginning to live as comfortably as possible with this diagnosis. How long this takes varies from person to person. Our group exists for a great many reasons ranging from emotional support, sharing of information, or just coming along to the meetings and talking to other people who have experienced something very similar.
The diagnosis affects not only you but may also affect other members of your family and friends. You may feel uncertain about what changes will take place in your life and in theirs. You may also feel numb or confused; have difficulty in listening to, understanding, or remembering what people tell you during this time.
First Steps
When you find out you have cancer, your personal values and experiences very often help determine what the diagnosis means to you. As you face your own mortality and cope with the many demands of illness, you may examine your religious beliefs, personal and family values, and priorities in life. Accepting the diagnosis and figuring out how cancer fits into your life may prove challenging.
After the diagnosis, you may experience shock, disbelief, fear, anger, guilt, sadness, grief, embarrassment, despair , or depression / anxiety. Each person may experience some , all or none of these feelings and each will handle them differently. Some women want to learn as much as possible about the disease whilst others only want to know the bare minimum and you have to decide what is comfortable and right for you.
Helping You
If you do decide to seek out reliable and up-to-date information perhaps from your health care team or by talking to family members and/or friends, this may help you to take control of your situation in order to make informed decisions.
Help for friends and family
We have some open meetings, where we welcome those who do not attend regular group meetings, along with friends and family.You can also find some really constructive help in a book published in 2012 written by a breast cancer survivor. “Your Guide Through Her Breast Cancer Journey” by Katherine Formosa Bown.
Moving Forward
Check out Moving Forward courses online which include emotional support. Please talk to our Specialist Nurses or your GP if you need any help.Click here for more information