Supportive Care

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Resources

Social Issues
No matter where you live, if you have cancer or are undergoing cancer treatment, you have resources in your community that you can look to for help. Many local organizations throughout the country offer support groups, provide financial assistance, or help with transportation, but often patients do not know about them or are unable to find them. This section will provide you with information regarding possible resources and services for patients and families dealing with cancer. Contact information as well as related links will also be provided. Cancer is a very difficult disease, but there are people who can and want to ease your burdens. The most important thing to remember is that you must ask for help in order to receive it; knowing where to go for help is the first step.

Support Groups
Support groups provide patients and families with information, guidance, and an unparalleled understanding of living through cancer. Support groups are available for various types of cancer and are open to patients as well as family members. The groups are led by a healthcare provider with expertise in the particular type of cancer.

Patient Advocacy
Learn more about the legislative and congressional activities in progress to protect and increase cancer patients' rights. Multiple organizations work closely with the state and federal governments to protect cancer care as we know it today and to increase patient's access to the highest quality of care available. Learn more about the patient advocacy activities of the National Cancer Institute, The Center for Patient Advocacy and the Learn more about the legislative and congressional activities in progress to protect and increase cancer patients' rights. Multiple organizations work closely with the state and federal governments to protect cancer care as we know it today and to increase patient's access to the highest quality of care available. Learn more about the patient advocacy activities of the National Patient Advocacy Foundation .

Patient Education
This section provides information for people living with cancer. While a person experiences a variety of emotions, when a person first learns that he/she has cancer, the primary concern is survival. As treatment begins, however, new issues become important. Some of these include our relationships with others, side effects from treatments, and nutrition and diet. Living with cancer is a challenge, and it is best to be educated about issues surrounding cancer survival in order to live a full and productive life.

For information and assistance with resources in your community, just ask your social worker or nurse.