Local cancer support group needed

To the editor:
    I am writing in regard to the cancer epidemic that is in our community and surrounding communities. I am a family member of someone who is battling with this disease. He has been traveling to Bangor to receive treatments on a daily basis for the past seven weeks — five days a week.
    About six weeks ago I started looking for a cancer support group in our area, and found nothing. I found a group in Presque Isle and a group in Bangor. After traveling daily to and from Houlton and Bangor while receiving his treatments there is no way he could travel another 45 minutes to Presque Isle to attend a support group and one available at Cancer Care in Bangor was during his treatment hours. I have called our local hospital and they did offer a room to have a support group to be held in, but there is no one in the area to facilitate the group. I have contacted the American Cancer Society, Cancer Care of Maine and others I found on the Internet and they have none available in our area.
    My question for people who are living with this disease, their caregivers and their family members in our community and surrounding communities is: if we can get a facilitator in our area, how many people would be interested in attending? I know from our experience, talking with each other about worries, needs and experiences with treatments, helps us cope while fighting this battle against cancer.
    If you are interested in attending or know of someone that is interested in attending, please contact me at 532-5952 and we will see if we can get a cancer support group in our area.
Billie Jo Davis
Houlton