Group Discussion Threads

[SaraWicksLMSW]

Group Discussion Threads

As the groups unfold, various discussion topics, or threads, evolve from your conversations. Both the moderator and group members are invited to initiate these discussion threads by starting new folders within the group space. Here are some examples of folder headings we’ve had in past Patient Groups.

Cancer and Relationships
Physical Remission—What About My Mind?
Doctor’s Appointments
Identities—How We See Ourselves (Below read an excerpt from a moderator of one of our Patient groups)
Trying to Work
Treatment Side Effects
Spirituality
The “Poster Child” Syndrome (Below read an excerpt from a member of our Ovarian Patient Group)

[Melissa3]

Identities—How We See Ourselves

From Melissa, Moderator of Lung Cancer Patient Group

Often times, a serious, chronic and/or debilitating illness has a way of taking over our lives, or at a minimum, our thoughts. While it is something the group members have in common, there are many, many other aspects to who we are, certainly before lung cancer, and since the diagnosis. We may have wonderful families and friends, but still feel isolated. We may have many blessings in our lives, but still feel depressed. We may have had other troubles in life, with family, work or within ourselves, and still have to find ways to deal with those issues in addition to Lung Cancer.

How do these issues ring true for you, or not? My hope is for our group members to be able to get to know each other as entire people. What would you like us to know about you so that we may know you better and understand your point of reference? Perhaps we have other things in common besides a cancer diagnosis. It might help to know some of those things to feel better understood here, or to be able to use this forum to share and vent!

Please let me know how I can be helpful or if there is a topic you would like to present to the group for further exploration.

Sincerely,
Melissa

[Janet90]

The Poster Child Syndrome

From Janet, a member of the Ovarian Cancer Patient Group

How can I explain to others what cancer is like? I don't understand it myself? I'm not reconciled to the uncertainty, to the inability to plan ahead, to the debilitating treatment. I'm really, really relieved that I haven't been asked searching questions, nor been treated like a Poster Child. I couldn't say that I'm doing well; I'd say that there are times that it's almost intolerable; and other times when the colors of life seem all the brighter for the uncertainty in the future. That I hate having cancer, yet it has led me to profound spirituality, love and friendship.

~Janet