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I have yet to find a support group in my area for ovarian cancer. I feel really alone.
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Does anyone else feel alone?
- By Fireball
- Posted December 10, 2008 at 2:07 pm · 15 replies
- In Young survivors
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- By momanderson920
- Posted December 10, 2008 at 2:28 pm
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If you can't find an ovarian cancer support group, are there any breast cancer or general cancer support groups. Sometimes the hospitals sponsor them. I would call your local hospital and also the American Cancer Society has lists. Good luck finding one. This is a lonely journey without fellow cancer survivors to share with. Another possibility is to ask your oncologist if there are any other ovarian cancer patients who might want to share contact info for support. I know they have to worry about confidentiality but you could give your info and ask the oncologist to introduce you to someone.
- By jeaniet
- Posted December 10, 2008 at 3:31 pm
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Chantel-----unfortunately you are among only about 200,000 of us worldwide. So, yes, this is a lonely disease.
Go to NOCC website and look at CA chapter. There are several groups.
Ask your Oncologist if there is a Social Worker on your Oncology Unit.....they will know some resources and there might be an actual OC group in your area.
Ask on this website if there is anyone living near you.
Obviously if you are near to a major city, you will have a better chance of finding support.
Look up the Cancer Camps on this site, and you might be able to go to camp and make some long distance friends.
This site also has the Friend feature, where you might find younger women, although maybe long distance.
I live in the sticks, and have no close support, so I know how lonely it is, but I do have friends on this site, and a friend I happened to meet at chemo, but only because I was wearing my Ovarian Cancer Sucks sweatshirt and she spotted me.
But for more general cancer support, there are lots of resources, like Momanderson said.
This has made me rely heavily on myself and non cancer friends.
Jeanie
- By Fireball
- Posted December 10, 2008 at 3:48 pm
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Thank you for your support. I don't feel so alone now. It's frustrating that there isn't much Ovarian Cancer Awareness compared to Breast Cancer Awareness. They both are so important. Had I not had pain in my right ovary I wouldn't have known about the tumor in the left. It's not checked for when you go for annual exams.
- By Fireball
- Posted December 10, 2008 at 3:49 pm
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Where did you get the shirt? I would definately wear something like that.
- By Fireball
- Posted December 10, 2008 at 3:53 pm
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My problem right now is I need to find an Onocologist /Gyn I feel comfortable with.I was just pushed off to my current doctor by my gyn. I didn't have much say in it being scared and all. You put up with a lot that you wouldn't if you were well and or had choices. Believe it or not there aren't many out here.
- By jeaniet
- Posted December 10, 2008 at 6:16 pm
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Chantel....
there are many sites to get T-shirts, but the biggest one that I know of, where I got several of them, is cafepress.com. Do a search on it for OC and you'll find THOUSANDS of things to buy.
I think it is on the NOCC website where there is a doc search for gyn/oncs, so maybe you could find a different doc. It is so hard though.....when I was living in Denver, Kaiser only had 1 gyn/onc. thank god I loved him, but it's tough when there are so few out there.
I too only discovered my cancer only by ovarian pain that I attributed to ovulation. Thank god I didn't wait to get it checked out. Even so I am Stage 3C.
Hang in there.......
Jeanie
- By momanderson920
- Posted December 10, 2008 at 6:43 pm
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Chantel, I do totally understand how lonely this disease is. My own family thinks this is like breast cancer...you get treatment and you are cured. Not that all breast cancer survivors are cured, but lets face it you meet far more of them walking around years since their cancer and in much better health than us. I am still having odd symptoms and don't feel just right and my CA125 went up alittle and my family doesn't understand my anxiety. It is lonely for sure.
- By viki
- Posted December 11, 2008 at 4:23 am
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Oh Friend,
do shop for a REALLY GOOD gynecological oncologist - it is well worth the money and the effort. Ask around, google. If you can access a good cancer center, do so. Ovarian cancer is a relatively rare disease, and it is a profession, distinct from general oncology or gynecology.
- By FavoriteAunt
- Posted December 11, 2008 at 8:22 am
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Another good place to get a shirt like that is choosehope.com - it was formed by breast cancer survivors, but they donate money every month from their proceeds and they do give to general and ovarian cancer groups. They are very reliable and have shits, and hats and buttoms that say "cancer sucks."
You are never alone here - try to remember that.
- By Eileen1941
- Posted December 11, 2008 at 8:59 am
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Hi Chantell,
I can understand your feelings of being alone. It is so hard to have cancer and especially at a young age. Just the diagnosis is enough to strike fear into the heart of anyone.
I don't know anything about the resources in California, but it you have a teaching hospital nearby, they will have a social work department and the social worker will be able to put you in touch with any local support groups. And she may be able to recommend a good GYN-Onc as well.
Another souce of information can be your minister at your church. The ministers are usually well versed in community resources and he/she may know of some nearby resources that would be able to offer you the support that you need.
Also feel free to tell us on this site about your feelings and what you are dealing with. All the ladies here have experienced life in Cancer World and we totally understand what you are going through. so feel free to vent and we are here to listen and offer support.
Good luck to you and please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing. God Bless!!! Eileen
- By gg1
- Posted December 11, 2008 at 10:02 am
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Whenever you are feeling blue, have a question, get good news, bad news, whatever may be, post on this site, or just read here some. I promise you will feel better. The women ( and occasional men ) here all understand and leap forward with lovings hugs like no one else can. This site has been a God send to me. The lifelines, sharing, caring and comradery, are unmatched anywhere and these women truely understand, your family and friends, try as they may, just don't get it, like these women get it! Ra Ra! Thank you Jesus, Thank you Lord!
- By mary_randall
- Posted December 11, 2008 at 9:55 pm
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a Gilda's Club was recently founed in Madison. I can't praise it enough.\, the groups are small and confidential, we do express our true feelings and feel very appreciative of the Club, their activities and suprisingly this is a place where we are all alike in our feers, concerns and questions. If there is one near you do visit, I hope you will like it as much as I do
mary
- By 35yearsurvivor
- Posted December 23, 2008 at 11:54 am
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Chantel,
I was 20 when diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 52 when diagnosed with breast cancer. I wish, wish, wish there had been someone to talk to when I was 20!!!!!!!!!!!
Share whatever (and I mean WHATever) you want here. I remember those feelings of overwhelming sadness, loneliness, fear and joy as if it were yesterday.
Take care,
Sue
- By nana55
- Posted March 18, 2009 at 12:45 pm
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Chantel,
You are not alone. I know it is easy to feel that way when home and isolated. This web site is a wonderful place to find others like yourself . When you read the posts it is almost like another language only we speak. I was 23 when diagnosed with stage lll ovarian cancer, that will be 30 years this summer. It seems like my cancer has been more like a chronic disease. Just take one day at a time.
I am glad to hear you are off the hrt.
A good doc can make all the difference, especially one who cares about your quality of life.
You are in my prayers.
- By Fireball
- Posted March 18, 2009 at 1:06 pm
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I have mixed feelings about the HRT. I don't know if it is being sore from surgery or lack of hormones but I am very irritable,
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