Also, family members and friends often need help in dealing with stresses such as family disruptions, financial worries, and changing roles within the family. Your doctor and his staff should have specific information about local support groups, such as their location, size, type, and how often they meet. Moreover, most hospitals have social service departments that provide information about cancer support programs. There are actually several different kinds of support groups, depending on an individual's needs or preferences. Support groups may be led by a professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, or by other patients.
Many groups are free, but some require a fee.
In addition, support groups can vary in approach, size, and how often they meet. It is important that you find an atmosphere in which you are comfortable and which meets your individual needs. According to researchers led by Kathryn Davison, Ph.D., of The Human Asset in Dallas, the relative anonymity afforded by online chat groups has made it easier to overcome embarrassment or shyness. Importantly, they found that 60 percent of the groups which described themselves as self-help were professionally facilitated. Rather, they may need to speak and be heard about issues not being addressed within the healthcare setting.