Most people already have support from their circle of family and friends. Family and friends can be a powerful support network that gives strength to people living with breast cancer. Spouses and partners, as well as children, often play key roles in supporting those they love through the tough times of diagnosis and treatment [3,7,17,18].
You may find, however, that you also need support from people outside of your existing network. This can be a difficult step, but it is an important one. Conditions such as breast cancer can trigger strain within relationships, and you may have decreased emotional support from close members of your social networks [19]. This means that, at the time when they are needed most, the people close to you may be less supportive than usual. Because this can happen to anyone, it is important to be prepared and to seek other sources of support if needed.
Fortunately, there are many social support resources including support groups, religious organizations and health care providers.
If you and your family are facing end-of-life decisions, hospice is another good option.
Updated 05/13/09
