Barbara Long says fellow CSCNT participants have a deeper understanding of what living with cancer means than her family and friends.
“They don’t have to have the same kind of cancer, but they just understand the side effects you’re dealing with and the worries you have,” says Barbara, who has been coming to Cancer Support Community North Texas since 2018.
While she has great support from her husband, Barbara considers those in her CSCNT Living with Advanced Cancer support group as an integral part of her life.
“When I went from stage 1 to stage 4 breast cancer, family members said, ‘Just be positive. You can beat this.’ But no, there’s not a cure, so the understanding isn’t there, and they don’t really want to understand because it’s scary,” Barbara says. “That’s why having a place (CSCNT) where you are brought together with others who are walking a similar journey is a critical piece that brings comfort that I’m not alone.”
Barbara adds, “I have up to seven people in my support group that if I’m having a hard time, I can call.”
Along with the support group, Barbara has benefited from CSCNT’s individual counseling, yoga, tai chi, art classes and more. She also is active in the Member Advisory Council. Whether it’s a more structured support group or an informal social activity, she finds that participants will talk about what’s important in their lives. They also find time to laugh and enjoy each other’s company.
Individual counseling helped Barbara through a difficult family situation, reduced her anxiety and showed her she would benefit from longer-term counseling. “I’ve always been a leader and independent and thought I could get things done by myself, but on the cancer journey, I can’t do it by myself,” she says.
“CSCNT gives me a place to come where I know there’s going to be someone here to hold my hand, my heart and help me to find my way to live with cancer,” Barbara says.