If you or a loved one is struggling with a cancer diagnosis or treatment, then the ACCE Cancer Support Forum is the place for you. The ACCE Cancer Support Forum is an online, fully moderated forum and evidence-based Cancer Support Program designed to help decrease cancer-related distress, ensure that no one faces cancer alone and as a complement to medical care. It is a safe place to connect with others affected by cancer, share experiences and also get support.

When people are diagnosed with cancer, they may experience various emotions including shock, anger, disbelief, intense sadness, fear, anxiety, depression or a sense of loss and may need help to cope with these feelings. Sometimes, even the most supportive family members and friends cannot understand exactly how you feel and may cause you to feel lonely, misunderstood, or isolated. Several studies have shown that being part of a support group can help people with cancer cope with some of these feelings and can help you feel more hopeful and manage the emotions better. It can also be comforting to spend time with others who have gone through similar experiences you may be going through and sometimes easier to talk to them about things that you don’t feel you can share with anyone else.

The ACCE Cancer Support Forum is designed for you to interact with other people who have similar, first-hand experiences with cancer. You can talk to them about their experiences and share your own and this can help reduce stress. In this support forum we want members to feel more comfortable sharing feelings and experiences that may be too difficult or too awkward to share with their family and friends. Being part of ACCE Cancer Support Forum will create a sense of belonging that helps each person feel more understood and less lonely. Since members of the ACCE Cancer Support Forum are either someone diagnosed with cancer or living with cancer or caring for someone with cancer, members can understand how you feel; help lift your spirits or calm your anxieties; offer companionship and the chance to discuss concerns and feelings; talk about what to expect; tell you how they coped; decrease your sense of isolation, fear and loneliness; help you learn ways to enjoy each day; offer information and practical tips; help you explore alternative ways of dealing with difficult issues; help you find resources that will further help deal with a cancer diagnosis or offer a place where you are able to speak openly and release emotions without the fear of straining other close relationships.

ACCE Cancer Support Forum creates a forum to discuss practical information. This may include what to expect after diagnosis and during treatment, how to manage specific side effects and how to communicate with health care providers and families. Talking about these topics within the support forum could provide a sense of control and reduce feelings of helplessness as you cope with cancer.

ACCE Cancer Support Forum combines different approaches to share information including:

• Professional-led discussion. A counselor, social worker, or other trained professional will lead the conversation among the members.

• Educational workshops. The group will be led by a professional facilitator. They will provide cancer-related information and education. Speakers such as doctors and nurses, who provide expert advice will be invited to speak to the group.

• Peer-led discussion: Some members of the group will be asked to lead a conversation.

ACCE Cancer Support Forum is open for:

All individuals with cancer in Ghana and their caregivers, such as family members and friends