A kidney cancer diagnosis can be both overwhelming and isolating. It can be hard to talk to people who may not fully grasp what you’re going through. Joining a support group for people with cancer can help ease the burden of feeling like you’re on your own.

Kidney cancer symptoms that people can’t see, such as fatigue, pain, blood in urine, and loss of appetite, aren’t easy to understand if someone hasn’t experienced them. Kidney cancer can affect every aspect of your life. It can be hard to talk about the feelings and frustrations that you know well, but people who haven’t lived through them may not understand.

Finding a support group can help you manage the daily challenges of living with kidney cancer. By participating in a support group, you can share your journey and learn from others.

How Do Support Groups Work?

Health-related support groups are designed to provide a place for people with certain health conditions to talk about their experiences and share resources. Different types of organizations like hospitals and health centers, nonprofit organizations, and community groups offer support for people with health problems such as chronic diseases and different types of cancer, including kidney cancer.

Support groups meet in person, online, or by telephone. Many support groups have a facilitator who leads the group. In some cases, a support group for people with cancer might be led by someone who also has a history of cancer.

Support groups can also be led by a social worker, nurse, mental health practitioner, or another type of healthcare professional. Some online support groups, such as MyKidneyCancerTeam, operate more informally and allow members to interact whenever they want without someone leading the discussion.

There are support groups that allow family members and kidney cancer caregivers to participate. There are also support groups specifically for family members and caregivers of people with cancer. These groups can help people who care about someone with cancer better understand the disease, what their loved one is going through, and how they can be most helpful. Caregivers also often need emotional support.

What Are the Benefits of Support Groups for People With Kidney Cancer?

If you’re living with kidney cancer, there are many different ways a support group can help you. Here are some of the benefits of support groups for people with cancer.

A Support Group Can Help You Feel Less Alone

One of the main reasons people with cancer participate in support groups is to feel less alone. According to the American Cancer Society, people with cancer often feel isolated or experience feelings of loneliness.

You may feel socially isolated due to fatigue or pain, the time and energy expended on kidney cancer treatment, changes in your appearance, or from being emotionally drained. Even if you have a supportive social environment, meeting other people with similar experiences can help with feelings of isolation and provide support and a sense of community.

Social support may provide other benefits as well. Research has shown that people with cancer who interacted with others who had survived cancer for at least five years had better survivorship themselves.

You Can Openly Express Your Feelings

A range of feelings can occur with kidney cancer, including fear, anger, anxiety, uncertainty, sadness, or depression. You may have excessive worry about caring for your family.

It’s important to express your feelings about living with kidney cancer. This is especially true if you feel you can’t openly talk with other people in your life about your experience with kidney cancer. A support group can be a safe place to express yourself openly without judgment.

Attending a support group doesn’t mean you are obliged to share anything. If you don’t feel like sharing, no one is going to force or pressure you.

If you believe your feelings are affecting your mental health, be sure to talk to your doctor.

A Support Group Can Help Validate Your Experience With Kidney Cancer

It can be helpful to have other people listen to your stories and validate what you’ve experienced with kidney cancer. Even the people closest to you can’t always understand your experience with this disease.

Support groups are places where you can listen to and be heard by people who’ve walked in your shoes and know what it’s like to go through extended cancer treatment, navigate a bureaucratic healthcare system, deal with health insurance claims, and feel tired all the time.

Support Groups Can Provide Useful Tips and Information

Support groups are a great place to share information and coping strategies. It can be useful to hear how others have tolerated treatment side effects, made healthy lifestyle choices, or dealt with persistent symptoms such as fatigue. You may learn about new cancer research, clinical trials, or resources for financial assistance in a support group.

It can also be helpful to get tips on how to communicate your needs better with your doctor or family members. Sharing experiences and other cancer-related topics can help you learn strategies for coping with kidney cancer.

Your Outlook May Improve With a Support Group

A support group can give you hope and a better outlook on your experience living with kidney cancer. It can be inspiring to hear other people with cancer share their stories of resilience and overcoming difficulties.

Having a more hopeful mindset about cancer can be encouraging. With a better outlook, you may be more receptive to other resources that can help improve your quality of life while living with kidney cancer.

How To Find a Support Group

Many nonprofit organizations that specifically advocate for people with kidney cancer and support kidney cancer research also sponsor support groups. Other organizations offer support groups for people with any type of cancer. Here are some resources for online support groups, such as MyKidneyCancerTeam, that you may find helpful:

• The Kidney Cancer Association sponsors virtual (online) support groups for people with kidney cancer and their caregivers.
• KCCure runs several kidney cancer support groups in private Facebook groups that you can join.
• CancerCare offers support groups for people with cancer, including online support groups via message boards and live online support groups, which are led by licensed social workers.
• Mayo Clinic moderates an online support group for people with kidney cancer, where you can post questions and discussion topics.
• CanCare provides support groups via Zoom for people with cancer and their caregivers.
• The American Cancer Society runs a discussion board for people with kidney cancer.
• The Cancer Support Community, also known as Gilda’s Club, sponsors in-person support groups in many locations throughout the U.S. They also run online discussion boards for people with cancer and their families.

Talk to your healthcare team if you’d like to find an in-person support group near you. Depending on where you’re located, your doctor may be able to provide you with information about local support groups for people with cancer.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On MyKidneyCancerTeam, the social network for people with kidney cancer and their loved ones, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with kidney cancer.

What kind of support groups for kidney cancer have you participated in? What have you found to be most helpful in support groups? Share your experiences in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.