Impressions (February)

CANCER SUPPORT GROUP self-help meeting
Impressions: Meeting 2/26/15. Men, look to your left and to your right. One of you will have cancer in your lifetime. For women its 1 out of 3. Everyone is touched by cancer.
We discussed our recent labs, scans, biopsies. All good news. We revisited reasons for not attending. The same ones we struggled with before each of us attended our first meeting. We discovered we didn’t know everything about ourselves, treatments, side effects, etc.

Reason #1: What is this ‘self-help’? If its ‘self’ help why go? “I can help myself.
Reason #2: I will not know anyone there, so how can people who don’t know me help me? Fair Questions for sure. But, the answers might surprise you.
Reason #3: I can’t make it that one night of the month. Immediate answer: Its 1.5 hours that might save your life. More on this later.
Reason #4: Can I bring someone with me? Yes, anyone. Other reasons in next article.

Answers: #1. It’s self-help because what you need to get out of the meeting is there for the taking, all you have to do is come. If you don’t come, its not help- ful. Its so simple its scary. You need not say anything. Others are talking and you’re listening. Its amazing how important are the things that we hear from one another. One of the most amazing is real professions of faith in God, His Son and the Power of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes hidden within the most profound, yet simple, declarations of faith, is hope. And there’s more, so come and take a chance. You will meet wonderful people, mostly parishioners, but others also. Attendance averages between, 10-16.

Answer #2: People with cancer tend to ‘tell it like it is’. They are not encumbered by a relationship with you, at least not yet. At that first meeting, what they see is what will generate their first response, always positive and helpful. You’re being there indicates to everyone that you are willing to say, silently or otherwise, that you care enough about yourself and those who care about you, to make the most of the rest of your life. How important is that? Its big. The self-help can take effect before you have mentioned your name or said a word. If you can’t say, “Cancer”, its okay. Silence can be louder than you think. Everyone there is on a ‘cancer’ journey of some sort and its their journey.

Answer #3: You have cancer or you are touched by it in some way - spouse, family, friends. Set your priorities. Where are you and the ones who love you on your list? Hopefully at or near the top. If not at the top, reshuffle the list. 1.5 hours in a month, on a Thursday evening? Make a change, just make it happen. Ask the person who loves you the most to come with you, and its okay to hold his/her hand. Caring for kids? Find help. It could be the most important request for help you’ve ever made and you‘ll be better with the kids.

Answer #4: See above.
One last comment: Lower your stress, get one of these ‘self-help meetings behind you. You’ll have plenty to think about and it will self help you. Not a patient or primary caregiver? You’ll learn a lot about both of you now touched by cancer. “People who believe and belong - The Kingdom of God is where you are.” Next meeting Thursday, March 26, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m., Faith Formation Center 2 ^nd Floor Conference Room. Please, tell us your reasons for not coming: Jim or Jan Ermis, 497-8613 or 616-1129.