Face to face support groups in many cancers including H&N were around before we put this forum up in 2001. Online forums for this kind of thing were unheard of. Having attended one of those mentioned (UCLA), I found that I had issues almost daily, questions I needed answered...but by then I was far away from my treatment team, (Huston) in a protracted recovery with tons of things still going wrong. Still on opioid drugs, still on a PEG, and still emotional screwed up in spades. Meeting once a month with people who were like me still mostly in treatment or a couple very fresh out of it, I decided wasn't as helpful as I thought it might be though I liked the camaraderie of seeing someone in person. That's when OCF started this forum, because I never felt that once a month was going to be enough, and that only 10 or less people at most of the meetings were going to offer me the insights that I sought. The nurse that monitored it wasn't allowed to give out medical advice to patients who were not hers, and that was an additional issue.

So OCF bought this software which has now helped over 11,000 registered users, and hundreds of thousands of lurkers that come but do not post. If someone can be taught to use a computer (age can be a disqualifying issue sometimes as they are less computer conversant than others) this is a place where they will find carefully vetted information, emotional support, and yes even love from people thousands of miles away. I think she should try it, since the format has stood the test of time.