Hello There! My name is James and I'm a patient in the West Los Angeles Veterans Hospital. I attend group therapy twice a week and in my group are three gentlemen with various forms of cancer. Each of them have survived more than one recurrance. Two have had facial surgery that altered their appearance significantly. These two men have significant depression due to their appearance as well as the trauma of their illness. Remembering my father's fight with cancer I quickly asked if they had hooked up with any support groups that specifically addressed the physical appearance aspects of their past treatments. I was surprised, if not saddened, to hear that they had never heard of such a support group. I vowed to find something. That's where each of you come in. I find plenty of resources for the 3rd gentleman who has prostate cancer. But I am having trouble locating support groups that deal with the physical alteration and self-esteem issues. Remembering my father, tears came to my eyes when I heard these gentleman refer to themselves as "freaks" and the like. Nothing could be further from the truth but I understand how their self-image has "soured."
If you know of some groups you may email me directly. Since I'm in the hospital myself my access to the internet is irregular, at best but I will make sure that the information gets to these guys.

God Bless Each Of You!
James W. Green
[email protected]

There are two sites that immediately come to mind. They are still getting started but there is some good information and personal stories there. The first is in Canada and is http://www.aboutfaceinternational.org/main.html

The second is http://www.aboutfaceusa.org Both may offeer the kind of content you are loooking for.

I was given this information from the staff psychologist at the va in long beach, ca, I have not been able to reasch myself, in the middle of moving before my surgry ..
UCLA jonsson cancer center and uc irvine medical center in orange. I am not sure If I can post phone number so I will send email, but I left this post so that someone else could also be aware
that head and neck cancer support groups are here

I, nor OCF as an entity which is trying to help people, have any problems with anyone posting numbers or contact information here for other organizations or support groups. This isn't about ego or control, it is about helping as many people as possible with as much information as possible. So feel free to post any support group numbers. I hope that others who know about us will do the same when they visit another support or information site like OCF's and they spread our name as well. The only thing that I ask people not to do, is mention Dr's by name, positive or negative. And it is a good idea not to put your own phone numbers on any posts, as these are open boards to the world. While we have never had a negative comment or problem, there is no reason to take chances. Email your private information to friends you make here, it is much safer. OCF by the way, does not share any information that we have about anyone that visits us with any other organization, person, or company. Your privacy is assured here.