Do you have a support group?

Do you have a support group?

            If you have an Indiana Pouch it’s a good bet that you don’t know of many others with one. Even though bladder cancer is among the 10 most common forms of cancer it appears that other forms of diversion are much more common than the Indiana pouch. For example, in my local ostomy support group of about 60 members I am the only one with an IP. In spite of that, I find that associating with that group provides support and encouragement.

            Every metropolitan area has such a group. Your first source of information should be your surgeon or your ostomy care nurse. The local medical center can probably direct you to one, and it’s likely to meet in that facility.

            The United Ostomy Association of America, Inc. (UOAA) can direct you to a group in your area. That organization (www.ostomy.org) provides a large base of information about both colostomy and urostomy, a newsletter, a magazine with helpful information and a discussion board (www.ostomy.org/forum). It also provides a free magazine for new ostomy patients.

            The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (www.bcan.org) is another organization with a very active participant group. The direct link to their subscription page is inspire.com/invite/?ref=as&asat=13022384. On any given day you will find several discussion topics and loads of input from subscribers.

            Interacting with persons with similar problems will often lead you to answers for which you didn’t even have a question.