Where to find help locally and virtually
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
The American Cancer Society predicts that 154,270 people in the US will receive a colorectal cancer diagnosis this year.
As the fourth most common type of cancer in America and the second most fatal, colorectal cancer diagnosis is scary. Even people who genuinely care about the patient can find it difficult to connect in a meaningful way. A person coping with the stress of undergoing treatment and an uncertain future can only benefit from reaching out to others.
“It’s helpful to join a support group to get an idea of what to expect with treatment,” said physician Shannon Spencer, with Colon Rectal Associates of Central New York in Liverpool. “There are four different stages of colon cancer. Some have surgery and that’s all they need. Others are followed by chemotherapy. Others go right to chemotherapy.”
Some people research online as to what to expect at their stage of cancer. Spencer advises asking medical care providers and talking with people who have colorectal cancer rather than searching on the internet for information.
“Google can be a very confusing place if you’re newly diagnosed,” she said. “A lot of what you read may not even apply to you.”
Local, in-person groups include:
• Peaceful Remedies, Oswego (www.peacefulremediesoswego.com, general holistic care for people with life-altering diagnoses)
• Maureen’s Hope, Baldwinsville (www.maureenshope.org, general practical support and assistance for people with life-altering diagnoses, including cancer)
Virtual-only groups:
• Colontown, Crownsville, Maryland. (https://colontown.org)
• Fight Colorectal Cancer, Springfield, Missouri. (https://fightcolorectalcancer.org)
• This Is Living with Cancer, New York City (www.thisislivingwithcancer.com/cancer-type/colorectal)
• Colorectal Cancer Alliance, Washington, DC (https://colorectalcancer.org)
Hotlines
Cancer Helpline and Live Chat by the American Cancer Society (800-227-2345)
Counseling by CancerCare (800-813-4673)