Support Groups

Leiomyosarcoma Support Groups

Though you always want to take action when you have received a diagnosis of Leiomyosarcoma, you will be surprised by the number of physicians and medical experts who advocate for alternative therapies in addition to aggressive treatment.

These alternatives will include everything from radical changes in your diet to psychological therapy. Additionally, most experts steer patients towards support groups of all kinds in order to get information, advocacy, and to empower patients by meeting others who share the same medical experiences. Often, simply writing or speaking about your feelings and your experiences with those who have gone through it, or who are currently encountering many of the same things, can provide a tremendous benefit.

However, it is not always easy to find a nearby hospital or cancer treatment center that offers a guided support group opportunity. Thanks to the advent of the Internet, it is easier than ever to join in on support groups of all kinds, and you can use online sessions in addition to real world opportunities.

Most of the hospitals specializing in sarcoma and Leiomyosarcoma treatments will have ongoing group and individual support opportunities, and the list of online support groups may also provide you with local, real-world meetings, too. You cannot overlook the opportunities for networking and developing a strong social and emotional support circle through participation in online and real world support groups, and you really should think of them as part of a truly aggressive cancer treatment.

The most popular and well-known sites are listed below:

ACOR L-M-Sarcoma – The Association of Cancer Online Resources list for sarcoma patients and their families. This is considered one of the top and most active groups.

LMSarcoma – A Yahoo! Groups page for those with Leimyosarcoma, and their families as well. This one is also very popular and active.

American Cancer Society Support Resources – Offering a tremendous range of support opportunities, this page features their “WhatNext” cancer support network, the Cancer Survivors Network, the Circle of Sharing page, and the I Can Cope Online programming.

Hope Circle – The home page for the Sarcoma Fighters.

Life Raft Group – For those with GIST, but a useful resource for all LMS patients.

Leiomyosarcoma – Cancer Survivors Network support page for LMS patients and families.

LMS eAlerts – An online news service for patients, families and professionals.

LMS Lifeline – A resource for those with LMS or their families.

SmartPatients.com – The sarcoma community at this site is a great resource for patients and their families (registration required).

Sarcoma Alliance – Various online support opportunities for patients and their families, as well as caregivers (registration required).

Planet Cancer – The sarcomas group is mostly made up of young adults, but the advice given here is fairly universal to all sarcoma patients.

Hospital and Cancer Center Based Groups in the U.S.

Below are the current hospital and cancer treatment center support groups available. The weekly or monthly meeting schedules may change, so check with the links to see when and where the groups meet. These are especially valuable to patients and their families, as they are often administrated by trained staff familiar with LMS and its challenges.

Cedars-Sinai’s Sarcoma Support Group (Los Angeles, CA)

Dana Farber Cancer Institute’s Sarcoma Support Group (Boston, MA)

Emory Winship Cancer Institute’s Sarcoma Support Group (Atlanta, GA)

The James Cancer Hospital’s Sarcoma Support Group (Columbus, OH)

Sarcoma Alliance Networking Group (Redondo Beach, CA)

Sarcoma Support Group (Greenville, SC)

You never have to endure the emotional strain of LMS on your own. Whether it is 2am at your home or every single Wednesday during your treatment, there are always options to speak with others, even if it is to just complain. It does a lot of good to share your thoughts and feelings, and it is considered part of your healing process.

Source

SarcomaHelp.org. Sarcoma Resources. 2015. http://sarcomahelp.org/resources.html