Make a Connection – Find Strength with Others

Even though a lot of patients receive support from friends and family, connecting with others who have similar experiences can improve quality of life and enhance survival. Peer mentoring, such as support groups and networks of patients and caregivers, offers many benefits:

• Give patients and their loved ones a chance to talk about their feelings and work through them
• Help patients and their loved ones deal with practical problems, such as problems at work or school
• Help patients and their loved ones cope with side effects of treatment
• Help children or family members of patients address changes in roles, relationships, and finances, and how to support the person who has cancer

Online support groups, social networks, and chat groups can be helpful for people who live in rural areas, have trouble getting to meetings, or prefer not to go in person. While online groups can provide valuable emotional support, those using them should always check with their doctor before making any changes based on what they read or hear from another person's experience.

Retreats, camps, and outdoor excursions for cancer survivors and their loved ones can provide unique mentoring and bonding experiences for all who attend.

Find a list of Salt Lake City area support groups here. For additional information or resources, please contact these Huntsman Cancer Institute services: 

• The Cancer Learning Center has hundreds of free brochures and over 3,000 books, DVDs, and CDs available for checkout. Talk one-on-one with trained and caring staff, or send an e-mail for answers to your cancer questions.
• Our Patient and Family Support Services professionals offer HCI patients and their families emotional support and resources for coping with cancer and its impact on daily life.
• The Linda B. and Robert B. Wiggins Wellness-Survivorship Center offers support groups, classes, and activities aimed to increase the quality of life and well-being of HCI patients and their families.