Today I joined the Colon Club.
I’d first checked out this site shortly after being diagnosed and read some of the stuff on the ‘Colon Talk’ message board, but somehow didn’t feel like I could talk to ‘total strangers’ about what was going on. I think in part because it hadn’t really sunk in yet. Then this morning I had another look at it and decided to take the plunge and become a member.
When I was talking to raincoaster on the phone the other day she suggested that I look for a support group, or even start a private blog to vent if I needed to, which were both good suggestions. But I’m really not a group person and I find the stuff I post here about cancer stuff supplies enough venting (and the wonderful caring responses I get really help me a lot).
But the Colon Club online support group seems perfect for me because there is no physical commitment for me to be somewhere – I can stop in whenever I like for as long as I like. Also, as this site is specifically about colon cancer, I’m already learning a lot by reading about other people’s experiences.
I’ll still be writing about my progress and experiences here, but it feels good to have another outlet where I can talk to people who have been through similar stuff.
casa azahar 
It is good to find someplace. The more and more varied support you have the better.
I am sending you big warm hugs.
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You know, I have been thinking about this all day. I really wished I had been able to find a support group when I had my miscarriages, especially the first one. There were support groups for behreavement and for those who had lost children or had still-born babies but nothing for miscarriage.
I have since found out that there are now groups out there but it just didn’t feel like the right to go to any of the others because having a miscarriage just isn’t seen the same way as losing someone you’ve gotten to know or a still-born child…
When I worked at the bookstore, I used to get the couples or mothers who had miscarriages fielded to me because I understood. I was always aggitating to have a separate section on losing a baby because mourning parents don’t want to have to scour the pregnancy books for the few that talk about losing a baby. The managers just didn’t understand and refused to even think about it.
I used to talk to the customers for a long time about it because very often, they just couldn’t talk to anyone else about it.
Now, with the internet, there are more resources which are more specific and deal with all sorts of issues.
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Good, I’m glad you found what you needed. Hugs. And one of these days I’m going to beat you a Scrabble.
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That’s a WAY better name than ‘Butt Buddies’. 🙂
I hope all is well, I’m going to attempt to find my headset (there is still unpacking to do) and try to talk to you on Skype this weekend. I’ll try not to delay, defer, reschedule, adjourn, shelve, put over, take a rain check on or put on ice but I might not try until Sunday or Monday. 😛
Believe it or not I am STILL trying to recover from the incredibly minor outpatient surgery I had exactly one week ago so I feel a teensy, tiny, fractional bit of your pain as it were.
Long distance hug.
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Well done, Az! I hope the insights and support you gather and share with others in a similar position will help you get through this that much stronger.
It’s great how the Internet can put us in touch with exactly the right people or the right information right when you need it. Sometime I’ll post about how a psychology site helped me realise a so-called friend was actually mentally ill, and through exchanges with others got tips on how to cut her out of my life. I’d never even heard of the condition she’s afflicted with.
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great idea Az!
Ian, what condition are you referring to?
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That was so good of you to talk to the customers, Anneke. Imagine how lucky and grateful they must have felt to find you.
Meanwhile, I’ve discovered there are two sides to talking to people in a similar position. Of course the up side is that it seems a very good group of caring people and they have already made me feel very welcome.
But the down side is reading about people with the same stage cancer as me (and with liver metastasis) who later on ended up with recurring cancer in their livers and lungs, after – and sometimes even during – chemo. In some cases the people felt they were home free and then months later – blam! – more cancer. And sometimes, especially in the case of lung tumours, it end up being inoperable.
Sooooo … I’ve been having those “this is the beginning of the end” feelings of dread again, which is probably not the intended reaction to getting involved with a support group. . .
Looking forward to your call, zoomer. Have got my little headset next to the laptop. 🙂
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I’m so glad you found a group. I was hesitant to suggest one, and you shouldn’t feel bad if they aren’t quite the right fit — there’s enough groups out there that one will be, if you feel like looking for it.
I’m sending you multiple hugs…and I’m hoping your vacation is going well. You so deserve one!
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