What is Social Support?
Social support
Social support is the emotional support, practical help, advice and other benefits you get from interactions with people in your life, including:
- Family members
- Friends
- Spiritual advisors
- Co-workers and supervisors
- Health care providers
- Other cancer survivors
Social support can take many forms. It may be as informal as a sympathetic ear of a close friend, or as formal as a support group or seeing a therapist. This support helps you feel loved, cared for and understood.
Social support can also be practical help. Family and friends may give you rides to and from treatments or help with cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping and child care. Your boss may help you find ways to balance your job and treatment schedule.
Learn more about social support in the drawers below.
Susan G. Komen®‘s Breast Care Helpline: |
Calls to our Breast Care Helpline are answered by a trained and caring staff member Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET. Our helpline provides free, professional support services to anyone who has questions or concerns about breast cancer, including people diagnosed with breast cancer and their families. You can also email the helpline at helpline@komen.org. |
Social support for family and loved ones
As with any major illness, breast cancer can have effects beyond the person who is diagnosed.
Spouses and partners, family members and other loved ones may feel many of the same emotions as the person diagnosed: shock, sadness, fear, anger and denial.
Family and friends can be strong sources of support throughout diagnosis, treatment and recovery. At the same time, loved ones (especially spouses, partners and children) may also need social support.
Susan G. Komen® Support Resources |
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Updated 04/27/23