If you had cancer would you ask another cancer patient advice?

If I were to get cancer, would I ask another patient for advice? (like about chemo effects, etc). Yes I would. Would I broadcast it on Facebook? No.

My doctor (or my father, also a doctor) are the people I go to first for advice. I may seek out other patients in my real life network for personal advice, but would do so privately. I certainly wouldn’t want all 304 friends on Facebook to know that I have cancer. Ugh…too many wall posts.

I don’t know if my husband asked others specifically about cancer, but I do know he looked it up online and looked into his doctor’s background a bit online. Most of the info he got was from his doctors, but there were lots of useful resources online, as well.

I wouldn’t hesitate to ask another cancer patient about anything whether it be for advice, inspiration, support, understanding, or numerous other things.

When I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes in 2006, it gave me a good scare and I had tons of questions that I wanted clarification on. I attended some classes on dietary needs and diabetes awareness and while there, I talked with several people who were fellow diabetics and from among them all, I got a wealth of good answers and advice about many things.

I scoured the internet for information and did my own research. But I also went online and asked questions and read posts in online support groups. It’s more personal than broadcasting your illness on Facebook, but they are also real live people suffering just like you. Posting on your social network seems more like a cry for attention and sympathy…but some people want that, too! :)

Like @Bluefreedom, I would not hesitate. I do not have C, but I have a friend who has C, and I seek our her unique insights on many things in life.

I joined a breast cancer support group; we had all finished our treatments except for oral meds. It was wonderful; a place to cry, to comfort, to discuss decision making and to laugh over the various degrees of baldness, to drive and take notes at Dr’s.

I needed real women, in the same room or just a telephone call away.