What they said. Research the process - it
is a process - so that you can actually understand more exactly what you are dealing with. It is a very real thing, not something to tough out or suck it up and deal with. That man-card shit will just allow things to fester and poison you. My Lady counsels people (patients and their family/care-givers) - in a way she edits or directs their experience of cancer and it's effects/repercussions - and she is very clear about the process that takes place when there is a loss of your magnitude. Especially when coupled with the debilitating horrors that are associated with such a terrible disease.
If you are unable to get free social counceling, and are willing to gamble on help, try contacting different types of church folk. I know I have zero use for the mumbo-jumbo end of church/religeon, but the social help and the holdover of the village help support system that churches can provide is very real. So long as you realize you are vulnerable and could get sucked into the mumbo-jumbo if you don't exercise some discretion
btw, my Lady is a fan of David Cook's song "Permanent" which he wrote for his brother who died last year from brain cancer. Give it a listen if you haven't already.
YouTube - David Cook-"Permanent": A Memorial video for his brother Adam.
Good luck.