Are cancer support groups helpful?

They can be. NCI says support groups can help people feel less alone, talk about feelings and cope with practical problems, but notes they are not right for everyone.

Is palliative care only for the end of life?

No. NCI explains that palliative care aims to improve quality of life and can be given at any point from diagnosis, alongside cancer treatment.

Finding Cancer Support: Trusted Information, Groups and Care

Q: Where can I find reliable cancer information?

Start with your own doctor or national health service. NCI recommends government agencies, hospitals, universities and medical journals that provide evidence-based information, and warns to be careful with sites selling a product or a cure.

When you need reliable information or someone to talk to, it helps to know where to look. This guide covers trustworthy information sources, support groups, palliative care and support for families, and how to recognise information you should not trust.

For information only - this is not medical advice. Your doctor or care team is the best source of advice about your own situation. If you are in crisis or think it is an emergency, contact your local emergency services.

Start with your own care team

Your doctor, nurse or national health service is the first and best source of information about your situation. Care teams often include, or can refer you to, social workers, counsellors and other specialists. The US National Cancer Institute (NCI) suggests asking your health care team or hospital social worker whether your hospital or cancer centre runs support groups (NCI: Cancer Support Groups).

Trustworthy sources of information

NCI advises getting cancer information from reliable sources such as government agencies, hospitals, universities and medical journals that provide evidence-based information (NCI: How to Find Cancer Resources You Can Trust). Examples of official public bodies include:

Your national health service - for example, the NHS website in the UK (NHS: Cancer).
The US National Cancer Institute, which publishes plain-language information on cancer types, tests, treatment and coping, and runs a free, confidential Cancer Information Service for patients, families and friends (NCI: Contact the Cancer Information Service).
The World Health Organization (WHO) for general, global health information (WHO cancer fact sheet).
Recognised national cancer organisations and charities in your own country, many of which publish guides and run support services.

How to check a website or post

NCI suggests asking a few questions before trusting health information online:

Who runs the site, and is that easy to find?
Who pays for it, and what is its purpose? NCI warns to be very careful if a site is selling something or promoting a "cure".
Where does the information come from, and is the original source named?
Is it reviewed by people with medical or research qualifications before it is posted?
How current is it? A reliable page shows when it was posted or last reviewed.
Does it ask for personal information, and how will that be used and protected?

NCI also reminds readers that if a claim seems too good to be true, it usually is, and that personal stories on social media can be helpful for connection but are not a substitute for advice from your own doctor.

Support groups

According to NCI, cancer support groups are meetings for people with cancer and anyone touched by the disease. They can help people feel less alone, talk about their feelings, deal with practical problems and cope with treatment side effects. Groups can meet in person, online or by telephone, and some are for a particular cancer type, age group or for family members. NCI notes that a support group is not right for everyone and that needs can change over time. If you try an online group, NCI suggests checking its privacy settings and checking any medical information you read there with your doctor.

Questions NCI suggests asking a group before you join include how large it is, who attends, how often it meets, whether it is led by a professional or a survivor, and whether you can just sit and listen.

Emotional support and counselling

A cancer diagnosis, or a worry about one, affects feelings as well as health. NCI's coping pages describe common emotions such as fear, anger, stress and sadness and suggest ways to manage them (NCI: Emotions and Cancer). Your care team can refer you to a counsellor, psychologist or social worker. You do not have to manage it alone.

Palliative care is support too

Palliative care is often misunderstood. NCI describes it as care meant to improve quality of life for people with a serious illness such as cancer, by preventing or treating symptoms and side effects as early as possible. It covers physical, emotional, spiritual and practical needs, supports carers, and can be given at any point from diagnosis onwards - alongside treatment, not only at the end of life (NCI: Palliative Care in Cancer). NCI says the first person to ask about it is usually someone on the cancer care team.

Support for family, friends and carers

People caring for someone with cancer need support as well. NCI's caregiver pages encourage carers to accept help, look after their own health and consider a support group or counsellor (NCI: Support for Caregivers). Our guide on how to support someone with cancer covers this in more detail.

Preparing for appointments

Good support also means getting clear answers from your care team. Our questions to ask your doctor can help, and our guides on how cancer is diagnosed and types of cancer treatment explain common terms.

We do not recommend any commercial provider, product or private clinic. Be cautious of websites or people that promise a cure, ask for payment for "secret" treatments, or tell you to stop treatment your doctor recommended.

Sources

Last reviewed: 16 October 2026.

Finding trusted cancer support and resources