Newswise — A cancer diagnosis affects a patient’s family and friends as well as the patient himself. All can struggle with disbelief, fear, guilt, sadness and other strong emotions that may make it difficult for them to cope.
For those overwhelmed by a cancer diagnosis, support groups provide opportunities to gain comfort and hope from listening to other patients’ experiences, sharing one’s own story or getting the latest information from medical professionals. The Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center of Loyola University Hospital in Maywood, Ill., offers a variety of free support groups for cancer patients and their families, friends and caregivers. A social worker, nurse or psychologist leads the groups, which also provide information and practical help to participants. The groups include:
• Brain Tumor Networking Group – Group meets from 6-7 p.m., the fourth Wednesday of the month (Jan. 26, Feb. 23, March 23, April 27, May 25, June 22, Sept. 28 and Oct. 26) in the Coleman Image Renewal Center Conference Room in the Cancer Center. The group will not meet in July, August, November and December. For more information, call Laura Morrell at (708) 327-2042.
• Breast Cancer Networking Group – Meets from 6-7 p.m., the third Thursday of each month (Jan. 20, Feb. 17, March 17, April 21, May 19, June 16, Sept. 15, Oct. 20 and Nov. 17) in the Coleman Image Renewal Center Conference Room in the Cancer Center. Group does not meet in July, August and December. For more information, call Patricia Mumby at (708) 327-2133.
• Lung Cancer Networking Group – Group meets from 6-7 p.m., the first Tuesday of the month (Feb. 1, March 1, April 5, May 3, June 7, Sept. 6, Oct. 4 and Nov. 1) in the Coleman Image Renewal Center Conference Room in the Cancer Center. The group does not meet in July, August or December. For more information, call Jenny Abrams at (708) 327-2061.
• Gastroenterology Cancer Networking Group – Group meets from 6-7 p.m., the second Tuesday of the month (Feb. 8, March 8, April 12, May 10, June 14, Sept. 13, Oct. 11 and Nov. 8) in the Coleman Image Renewal Center Conference Room in the Cancer Center. Group does not meet in August, July or December. Appropriate for patients, family and friends dealing with one of the following cancer diagnoses: esophageal, stomach, intestinal, colon, rectal, anal, bile duct, gallbladder, pancreatic and liver. For further information, call Jenny Abrams at (708) 327-2061.
• Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Networking Group – Group meets from 6-7 p.m., the third Wednesday of every month (Feb. 16, March 16, March 16, April 20, May 18, June 15, July 21, Sept. 21, Oct. 19 and Nov. 16) in the Gorman Conference Room in the Cancer Center. The group does not meet in July, August or December. For more information, call Laura Morrell at (708) 327-2042.
• Bone Marrow Transplant Family/Caregiver Networking Group – The group meets from 10 to 11 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday in the High-Dose Transplant Unit in the Cancer Center and from 12 to 1 p.m. every Friday in the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit in the main hospital. For more information, contact Shari Lichtenstein at (708) 216-4776 or Patricia Mumby at (708) 327-2133.
• Great Diversions – Group meets from 7-9:30 p.m., the second Tuesday of every month in the Cardinal Bernadin Cancer Center Auditorium. Group is for men and women who have had or are considering a continent urinary diversion. For more information and for meeting location, call Ginger Lewis at (708) 216-5112.
Registration is not required and refreshments are provided. Parking is available in the Cancer Center parking lot. The Cancer Center and Stritch School of Medicine are both located on the campus of Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 S. First Ave., Maywood, Ill.
Follow Loyola on: Facebook: www.facebook.com/loyolahealthTwitter: http://twitter.com/LoyolaHealth YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/LoyolaHealth#p/u
RSS