When University junior Whitney Pollack’s mother was diagnosed with leukemia in June, she said her friends were very supportive, but she would have preferred to talk to someone who could relate.
“They’re awesome, but I feel uncomfortable to put that burden on them all the time,” she said.
Pollack, an international studies major, looked for resources, but didn’t find any support groups for people with loved ones dealing with cancer and other terminal illnesses. So she’s starting her own group, which will have its first meeting Monday night in the Knight Library.

While her mother, who has relapsed twice after initially being diagnosed with breast cancer 17 years ago, successfully underwent a bone marrow transplant last month, Pollack understands what it’s like to have a sick loved one far away. Her support group’s intention is to create a network of people going through the same thing.
“I was coming up with ways to empower ourselves at a distance, something tangible I can do that makes me feel like I’m supporting my mom with what she’s going through,” Pollack said, adding that her group is entirely student-run.
“It’s important to know that it’s not like a counseling group,” she said. “We don’t have any professionals who are going to be coming to our meetings. I’m definitely not a therapist, I’m just a student.”
The University’s Counseling and Testing Center has several support groups for a wide range of issues – including social anxiety, eating disorders, depression management, anger management, addictive behaviors, and grief and loss, among others – but none for students with loved ones facing terminal illnesses.
“Other than in a hospital setting, the groups aren’t usually that specific,” said Dr. Shelly Kerr, assistant director of the Counseling and Testing Center. “But we can help students work with one of our counselors or get connected to counselors in the Eugene community that help people work through the process of coming to terms with and coping with a family member’s illness.”
According to Kerr, people often feel like they’re being a burden and a support group offers the chance to “be able to talk to someone who really understands because they’ve had some similar experiences. Just based on the age group, most college students haven’t had to handle that yet.”
She said support groups can be helpful regardless of professional involvement, though she would recommend any student-run group to work with a “consulting professional” in case any attendees need further help.
Pollack, who would eventually like the group to include service projects, has been working with Paula Staight, director of health promotions at the University Health Center.
“What I’ve done is just provide her with a list of campus resources should a student want to talk to a counselor or feel like they need to talk to someone after hours,” Staight said. “I think there’s lots of room for many different avenues for students. Having their own support is great as well, as long as they know where to get help if necessary.”
Pollack is taking things one day at a time, so she’s waiting to see the turnout for her introductory meeting before deciding on the regularity and schedule of future meetings.
“I’m banking on people coming to the first meeting, but I have realistic expectations. If I get even a couple of people, it’ll be really exciting,” she said. “I think that cancer is something that’s so hard to talk about and I hope the group can serve some purpose for the people who are part of it.”
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