Community Corner

County Women Find Solace in Breast Cancer Support Groups

Bethesda-based Hope Connections offers free programs for those affected by cancer.

Editor's Note: To respect the privacy of the support group participants interviewed for this story, only partial names are noted.

Full support or light support — breast cancer groups offer up all sizes.

Traditional support groups find participants sitting in a circle sharing stories, struggles and advice. Breast cancer patients and survivors can find comfort and help in many ways and in many places throughout the Washington metro area.

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"Support groups have the power to keep people healthy — emotionally and spiritually," said Melissa Crown, a licensed clinical social worker. She's also a professional facilitator who works with cancer patients and caregivers at Hope Connections for Cancer Support in Bethesda, MD.

The nonprofit's free programs, including support groups, are designed to provide connection, learning opportunities and wellness classes that help restore strength and lessen the stress that comes with a cancer diagnosis. Seventy-eight percent of its participants live in Montgomery County, with 14 percent residing in Bethesda.

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Crown believes breast cancer patients who participate in support groups find a place where they can feel safe to share issues and express emotions. The "shock and awe" felt by the newly diagnosed, Crown said, can be tempered by the wealth of information a group can bring as a whole.

"They hear their own voices in the group, so that they're in a more responsible position to make important decisions in their best interest," she said.

Olivia, 52, of Silver Spring, said when she learned of her diagnosis — stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma — she was overwhelmed by too much information. She joined a support group to better understand her diagnosis and possible treatment options. And at Hope Connections she has found comfort and a place where she feels accepted.

"I didn't want to feel different … I don't feel different. I feel that I'm not alone — other people are going through the same treatment," she said quietly.

Ilene, 64, of Clarksburg, echoed Olivia's sentiments. She lost her husband to cancer when he was just 53. Her stage 1 triple negative breast cancer diagnosis left her feeling lost, confused and beside herself, she said.

"The outside world doesn't get it [cancer]. I don't think people realize unless they experience it," Ilene said.

For L. Tyckoski, of Bethesda, Hope Connections provided a place to talk about her experiences without any judgement. Her diagnosis — stage 2B invasive ductal carcinoma — followed a difficult two years for her family that saw her sister undergo a double mastectomy.

"I'd seen my sister go through hell," Tyckoski said, adding that she questioned why she had to do the recommended treatment of chemotherapy and radiation after her mastectomy. It's the encouragement, she noted, that she appreciates about the support group.

"People who've been through this before can help you to continue treatment — that life is worth it."

The solidarity is felt acutely by the women. Crown said the medical community becomes their second family. The women give each other great support and resources, and give each other the sense of being alive, she added.

And for Stephanie, 47, those benefits were what drew her to the group. She said her questions ranged from treatment options to surgery — questions she said her family and friends couldn't answer.

"Your life changes when you hear the words, 'You have cancer,'" she said.

To these women and many others, a support group can be a safe harbor — a place to feel connected, empowered and hopeful.

"For the most part they're warriors," Crown said about the women. "It's a very special role to be with others in the midst of such challenges. You learn a great deal. It's humbling."

Liz Sims contributed to this article.


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