TNBC: building your support network

Being diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) can feel overwhelming. A person will need to learn about their diagnosis, work with multiple healthcare providers, and make decisions about treatment. They will need to do this while coping with the fact that they’ve been diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer, and the numerous challenges that can accompany such a diagnosis —challenges like grief, uncertainty, changes in how they feel about their body, and concerns about how this diagnosis will affect family, finances, and other aspects of their life

While everyone’s experience with cancer is different, everyone can benefit from having a good support system in place.

What is a support system?

A support system is a network of people who are able to provide help and assistance to you and your family. Everyone has slightly different needs when living with cancer and being treated for cancer, so everyone’s support system will be a little bit different.

Some of the people who can be a part of a support system include:

• Your healthcare team
• Friends and loved ones
• Oncology social workers
• Counselors and mental health professionals
• Support groups

Your healthcare team

Good communication with your healthcare team is essential to getting the best care possible. Your healthcare team needs to know what you understand, what questions you have about your diagnosis, what you are concerned about, the challenges you are facing, and how you are feeling overall, both physically and mentally.

While cancer is a different experience for every person, it's also something that many people experience. Healthcare teams have strategies in place to help guide a person through the different challenges that come with a cancer diagnosis.

It also helps to think of yourself as part of your healthcare team, someone who can provide valuable information and input, someone who needs to be a part of treatment decisions.

Friends and loved ones

Family, friends, and loved ones are a valuable source of support when living with and treating cancer. This is sometimes referred to as "social support."

Spend some time thinking about the types of support you need, what you might need in the future, and who you can reach out to. Will you need help with errands, transportation, or other practical aspects of everyday life when recovering from treatment? Do you need someone to talk to about your diagnosis and what you are feeling? Do you need a friend who can help you smile?

Also spend time thinking about the types of support that you do not need. People may reach out with ideas for help, but those may not always align with what you want and what you need.

Counselors or mental health professionals

Even if you have never felt you needed to before, consider working with a counselor, a healthcare provider who specializes in mental health, or a spiritual or religious advisor. Even those who are confident and capable of coping with the mental and emotional burdens of a cancer diagnosis can benefit from counseling. Counseling can help you learn different strategies for coping with stress and/or making decisions. Counseling sessions also offer time to step back from both the demands of cancer treatment and everyday life and focus on what you need.

These resources are available for people living with cancer and are something to discuss with your healthcare team. These resources can also benefit caregivers, family members, and loved ones.

Oncology social workers

This overlaps with the previous section, because counseling is one of the many aspects of cancer care that oncology social workers can help with. An oncology social worker is a licensed professional who helps guide people with cancer and their families through the many aspects of treating cancer—navigating the healthcare system, understanding your diagnosis and treatment options, finding ways to reduce the cost of treatment, and connecting you with resources specific to breast cancer support.

Support groups

Consider participating in a support group for people who are living with breast cancer and/or TNBC, either a group that connects online or one that meets in person. Support groups offer the opportunity to connect with others who know what the experience can be like, where you can share your experiences, exchange what you've learned, and also provide support to others.

Ask a healthcare team or oncology social worker if they can recommend a support group. You can also check with organizations such as CancerCare and The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation.