Breast Cancer Support Groups Near Kennesaw

One in 8 American women and 1 in 1,000 American men will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives. It’s estimated that more than 2 million people are diagnosed with breast cancer and fight for their lives each year.

Breast cancer is difficult to face alone—for both patients and their loved ones. To help in the battle, there are a number of local resources and support groups.

• Sisters of Support. First Thursday of each month7 p.m. to 8 p.m., St. Philip United Methodist Church, 3455 Canton Rd., Marietta.
• Kennestone Hospital Women's Center. Second Tuesday of each month, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Kennestone Hospital Women's Center Azalea/Camelia Room
• The Women's Shoppe at Kennestone Hospital. Open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the store offers breast cancer post-surgery products such as breast forms, bras, scarves and hats. The Women's Shoppe is on the campus of WellStar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta.
• Energie. This 12-week program is held at WellStar Health Place, 330 Kennestone Hospital Blvd., Marietta. Health Place is on the campus of WellStar Kennestone Hospital. For more information, call Linda Lee at 770-793-7545. Cost: $99.

“Support groups are really beneficial,” says Debra Somerrs Copit, MD, Director of Breast Imaging at Albert Einstein Medical Center, and a member of the medical advisory board for Living Beyond Breast Cancer.

“When patients are told they’re sick, it can be an out of body experience and they aren’t taking in everything the doctor is saying. It can be helpful to have someone to turn to and learn from who has gone through the same thing,” says Copit, who is a breast cancer survivor herself.

Not only do groups offer emotional support, but being a part of a support group can actually help patients feel less depressed and can help to reduce physical pain, according to a 2001 study published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Patients who aren’t big fans of group settings but still want to reap the benefits can turn to technology. It’s hard to duplicate in-person support groups on the web, but the recently launched breast cancer specific social networking platform, MyBreastCancerTeam comes close.

The site and mobile app caters to breast cancer survivors, and women  who have been recently diagnosed. Users can find suggestions for doctors and find similar users based on location, diagnosis and age. Members also have access to peer-driven Q&A section where they can read and write posts.

While a web platform may be useful for some, Dr.Copit worries that online forums can sometimes trigger the spread of misinformation. She suggests that patients who can’t make it to an in-person support group try calling a phone line.

Living Beyond Breast Cancer has a confidential survivors’ helpline that connects patients with others of similar background, going through similar situation. Call (888) 753-LBBC (5222) for more information.

TELL US: Do you know of any breast cancer support groups in the community? How have they helped you?

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