small town help

[dianeresp]

I had my radical mastectomy April 17 th. The drains are what bothers me most. I live in a small town that does not offer any support for breast cancer patients. How can I start a support group for women who will go through this? I wish someone had told me what to expect before the surgery.

[SCMom]

There is a wonderful online support group, that I know you would love! Ladies are quick to respond and you can get all sorts of helpful info from people who have "been there." It has been a lifesaver for me! It has "sub" message boards for recurrence, chemo, surgery questions, and a big main board for anything relating to breast cancer. Women post questions about drains, surgery complications, support, hair loss, mouth sores, ...you name it! If you ask a question, you will probably get 5 to 25 responses! Please check for yourself:  http://bcsupport.org

[Orneville]

I had bilateral back in Jan 03, and had 4 JP drains post surgery. Very cumbersome and annoying. I was in hospital 4 days and on day I left had 2 removed. VNA came everyday to drain and note fluid in remaining 2, and had those removed 1 week after surgery. Found that if I used a fanny pack only in front I could keep JP drains out of the way and not jostle them.
I don't have any suggestions for starting a support group other than contacting your surgeon's office or Primary care and posting a notice in their offices. Also VNA or American Cancer Society maybe able to help.
Where I live the support groups all meet in the afternoons, not helpful for those who have to work, so I do not a support group either. Best of Luck

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear dianeresp:  You might try the Susan G Komen foundation to get some guidance.  Also, you might check with your local hospital (nurses or social workers) who might be able to help you get started.  Many times a few women, who might meet in a waiting room, can pull this off with a little help from the community (offering space to meet, etc.).  I sure the nurses etc. would be happy to post any flyers you might want to display.