what a sham!!!!!

Hi Sam. What a horrible experience especially at a time when you are feeling so vulnerable. I can totally understand how that would put you off.  I  had a very different experience with the cancer council. I rang them when my emotions got the better of me after repeatedly failing to get back to work. The man at their 'intake line' was a cancer survivor himself and totally 'got' what my issues were. They arranged for me to have another woman with breast cancer provide me with peer support which was great. They also arranged for me to have a trained counsellor call me for 6 hourly sessions. Then they put me in touch with a financial counsellor as I was having problems with lack of income from not working, and finally they helped with legal services to sort out my will. The counselling was good but as you say it is the women on this network that provide the best comfort - they 'really get it' as we are all going through the same thing.  Since dealing with them they have rung me asking for feedback about their services. Perhaps you could give them feedback to let them know what you experienced so it doesn't happen to anyone else and so that they can improve their communication.
Sending hugs, Nadine