For people affected by lung cancer, having someone to talk with that understands and you can share experiences with helps. However, many do not have access to a support group. So why not start your own in your area?

Here are the 10 things you can do to get a Lung Cancer Alliance support group in place near you.

1. Make a commitment. Leading a local support group is socially rewarding, but can demand your time and energy. Consider pairing up with a friend to co-lead the group. Having each other as backups, you can be certain that your support group starts on strong footing.
2. Determine your audience. Do you want lung cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers only? Or, can anyone interested in fighting lung cancer join? Be clear from the start about why your group is forming. For help, look at the mission of the Lung Cancer Alliance. [link to about us]
3. What happens at meetings? Talk with leaders of other support groups about starting a group or holding meetings. Brainstorm with your co-leaders on the specifics of the group. Determine a meeting place, supplies, goals, frequency of meetings and a budget. Delegate responsibilities for each person.
4. Build a local network. Start creating your network by word-of-mouth, posting notices at schools, churches, oncologist and other doctor offices. Have a phone number of a major contact on your notice. Meet with your other leaders and set an itinerary for the meetings. What do you want to accomplish at each meeting? Who will be responsible for what? Will you have refreshments? Can child care be provided?
5. Have information handy. Call or write the Lung Cancer Alliance to get materials. Also, consider writing up a handout with all of your information to be handed out to each individual that shows up for the meeting. Make sure your handout includes all contact names, phone numbers and email addresses.
6. Meet consistently. Keep your meeting at the same place, same time during the beginning weeks. Have your meeting, whether or not any outside guests show up. Sometimes it will take a few weeks for you to start getting some people on a regular basis. At the beginning of each meeting, have handouts with the goals for that night, contact names and phone numbers and reminders of when the next meeting will be held. That way all visitors will have a written reminder.
7. Keep things going between meetings. Your group should become a support system and network for your members in between meetings. Hand out lists of phone numbers and email addresses. Encourage your members to talk with each other in between meetings.
8. Plug into the Lung Cancer Alliance’s national network. Contact the Lung Cancer Alliance about the national work we’re doing. In many cases, you’ll find that your local group is thinking about the same issues. For example, you may be discussing what to do for Lung Cancer Awareness Month. We’ll keep you posted on ways your group can plug into the national effort through local activities.
9. Give yourself time. Give your support group at least 2 months to get going. In the beginning members may come and go but if you keep at it, you will eventually have a small core group that is always there.
10. Keep it relevant. If you started your group to support lung cancer patients, keep the ideas and meetings on this track so that members stay involved.

Have a support group? Let us know so we can include you in our directory.