Support for cancer patients: the Bahrain experience

Cancer, a disease people avoid talking about, is the second leading cause of death in Bahrain. The Bahrain Cancer Society established a support group in 1993 with the goals of helping patients and their families cope with this disease and increasing public awareness concerning early detection. Services provided by the group include a weekly 2-hour session to encourage patients to express their feelings and concerns, distribution of informational booklets and visits to people at home and in hospital. Furthermore, the group organizes recreational activities for children with cancer. Patients or their families can also page the group to discuss their problems. The main goal of this paper is to share the Bahrain experience of supporting cancer patients, their families and friends.