“You have cancer.”

Those are three of the scariest words anyone can ever hear, said Chelsea Peoples, spokeswoman for the American Cancer Society’s Norfolk office.

But both the ACS and Sentara Obici Hospital have a plethora of resources that can help soften the battle against cancer.

The ACS has its National Cancer Information Center, a myriad of resources, information, day-to-day help and support from cancer survivors, according to an ACS press release. Examples of services available include free, confidential information on managing the side effects of treatment, understanding insurance issues, arranging transportation to appointments and talking with other survivors.

Anyone seeking information can call 1-800-227-2345 or go to cancer.org.

Amy Peterson, Obici’s community health educator, said the hospital offers several on-site resources to support cancer patients, including:

4Women have to learn to deal with a lot of cosmetic changes after going through cancer treatment, said Peterson. They often deal with hair loss, nail damage and changes in their skin texture.

Each patient has the opportunity to come to a Look Good, Feel Better class one time, where a volunteer cosmetologist teaches them the new ways of applying makeup and using head coverings, Peterson said.

Each woman leaves with a case of makeup valued from $250 to $300 that cosmetic companies have donated.

Look Good Feel Better is on the second Monday of each month. Patients have to be registered in advance and space is limited.

4The Pink Passion Breast Cancer Support Group meets at noon on the first Wednesday of each month. The group is made up of a wide range of cancer survivors, from women who are newly diagnosed to a 30-year survivor, Peterson said.

“From the moment of diagnosis, they are a survivor,” said Peterson. “It’s good for new survivors to hear from people who have gone through similar experiences.”

Although the group only formally meets monthly, members have become friends over the years and often gather independently. For members, the support group is encouraging and uplifting, she said.

“Some of the ladies have become the best of friends,” Peterson said. “It has become a social group for some … but all those ladies share a bond that only they have experienced.”

4Sentara also offers online information and a Sentara support group on Facebook, Peterson said. A navigator does monitor the support group’s page, making sure information is accurate and posts are appropriate.

4Transportation is a big barrier that prevents patients in Suffolk from getting all treatments they need, Peterson said. With the city being so rural and large and with no citywide public transportation network, some patients don’t have a way to keep what can be daily appointments, she said.

The American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery program, which pairs volunteer drivers with patients in need, can help, she said. Once people sign up online through the American Cancer Society, Obici is able to pair them with patients who need rides.

“The ACS desperately needs more drivers in this area,” Peterson said.