As a cancer survivor, please know you are not alone and for your own sake as well as theirs, reach out to fellow survivors. Learn more about local support groups for survivors
BY Barbara Tako
PUBLISHED May 11, 2018
Barbara Tako is a breast cancer survivor (2010), melanoma survivor (2014) and author of Cancer Survivorship Coping Tools–We'll Get You Through This. She is a cancer coping advocate, speaker and published writer for television, radio and other venues across the country. She lives, survives, and thrives in Minnesota with her husband, children and dog. See more at www.cancersurvivorshipcopingtools.com, or www.clutterclearingchoices.com.
If we never had to face death, life would no longer be precious. Every cancer survivor has his or her own unique story and circumstances, and still, when we work through cancer supportively together, we are not alone. We can be – and we often are – there for each other.
With the explosion of cancer genetic research, we are learning more and more that each cancer survivor can be quite unique. We all have different family histories, medical histories, treatment histories, and unique cancer type even within the same general cancer label like "breast cancer" which has many types. Even with our uniqueness, we do not need to be alone, even if we are in a rural area or there is no one near us with our specific cancer.
I, for one, am deeply grateful for the support groups that are available in my metropolitan area. I also appreciate my fellow survivors who are at websites, in Facebook support groups and at curetoday.com. We have the opportunity to feel supported and less alone, and to education ourselves based on the experiences and knowledge of fellow survivors. When I have questions, fellow survivors have opinions, experience and suggestions. Thank you so much for that!
With the explosion of cancer genetic research, we are learning more and more that each cancer survivor can be quite unique. We all have different family histories, medical histories, treatment histories, and unique cancer type even within the same general cancer label like "breast cancer" which has many types. Even with our uniqueness, we do not need to be alone, even if we are in a rural area or there is no one near us with our specific cancer.
I, for one, am deeply grateful for the support groups that are available in my metropolitan area. I also appreciate my fellow survivors who are at websites, in Facebook support groups and at curetoday.com. We have the opportunity to feel supported and less alone, and to education ourselves based on the experiences and knowledge of fellow survivors. When I have questions, fellow survivors have opinions, experience and suggestions. Thank you so much for that!
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