How To Keep Family And Friends Up-To-Date

If there is a group of people you would like to keep to date about your progress and/or your needs, consider the following alternatives, each of which are discussed in this article: Internet sites, blogs and social networking sites, group e-mails, phone trees.

Internet Sites

Following is a list (in alphabetical order) of free internet sites dedicated to helping patients keep family and friends up to date and provide a place where family and friends can volunteer to fill unique or ongoing need as well as send messages to the patient. Each of the sites provide the same basic services. You can limit who has access to the information. 

• CaringBridge.org:  Does not require users to log in. Requests donations.
• CareCalendar.org  A calendar to organize meals and other help
• LotsAHelpingHands.com  Focused on people who need assistance. A care calendar web site
• MyLifeLine.org . A site of the Cancer Support Community. 

CAUTION: If you use your real name on one of these sites, an employer, potential employer or interested person can easily search and find out that you have a health condition. If confidentiality is important to you, consider using a fictitious name on these sites.  Also be careful on social networking sites such as Facebook.

Blogs and Social Networking Sites

You can set up your own web site or social  blog.

With a blog, people can log in and find out your condition as you post it. Two free blog sites are:     

• www.carepages.com .
• www.thestatus.com

CAUTION: If you use your real name in these situations, an employer, potential employer or interested person can easily search and find out that you have a health condition. If confidentiality is important to you, consider using a fictitious name on these sites.

Group e-mails 

Every e mail system allows for group e mails.

Once the list is put together, you can copy it each time an e-mail is to be sent to the group.

NOTE: If confidentiality is important to you, add to your e mail that the information is intended for the recipients only and is to be kept confidential.

Phone Trees

With a phone tree, a group of people have a pre-assigned person or people to call once they receive a call.  No one person will have the major burden of making calls. For example, Jane calls Joe. Joe calls George and Sylvia. George and Sylvia call two people each - and so on.

Phone trees are particularly effective for people who do not have smart phones

A major side benefit of a phone tree is that it can help create a support group of your friends and distant relatives - support for you, and support for each of them. Keep in mind that your diagnosis is not be easy for them either.

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