Cancer Support Groups
Support groups offer patients and family members:
- Emotional support.
- An opportunity to learn ways of coping with the uncertainty and changes in their lives.
- The chance to meet others who face similar issues.
- Time to explore issues facing all cancer survivors.
Support groups are listed below. Times and locations of meetings may change. Please contact one of the listed parties for the most updated information. If you have further questions, contact each group as listed.
Genesis Programs
QUAD CITIES BRAIN TUMOR SUPPORT GROUP
| Date: |
Fourth Monday of each month |
| Time: |
6:30 - 8:00 p.m. |
| Location: |
Genesis West Conference Center, Pavilion 2. 1351 W. Central Park. Davenport. |
| Facilitators: |
Susan Williams, Genesis Cancer Center |
| Comments: |
For all survivors of brain tumors, benign and malignant, adult and pediatric and their loved ones. |
| Cost: |
Free, snack provided |
| Contact: |
For more information, please callSusan at 563-421-1082. Toll free 800-446-6088. |
| For more information regarding brain tumors you may visit the following sites: American Brain Tumor Association and the National Brain Tumor Foundation |
QUAD CITIES BREAST CANCER AND LYMPHEDEMA SUPPORT GROUP
| Date: |
First Tuesday of each month |
| Time: |
7 - 9 p.m. on Tuesdays |
| Location: |
Tuesdays - Conference Center West Campus; |
| Contact: |
Barb Lynch, 563-332-9041 or Pat Conway 563-355-7548 |
| Comments: |
Support and education for breast cancer survivors. Please note sites and times alternate and may change. It is best to call to confirm times and location. |
| Cost: |
Free |
| Contact: |
For more information, please call Barb at 563-332-9041, Pat at 563-355-7548, |
ADULT GRIEF RECOVERY GROUP
| Date: |
Monday evenings and Tuesday afternoons, generally twice a month, call for exact dates. |
| Time: |
Call for exact times and dates |
| Location: |
Conference Center, Genesis East campus. Call to confirm location and times! |
| Contact: |
Genesis Spiritual Care Department |
| Comments: |
The Grief Recovery Group is for adults who are living through grief. It provides a safe and accepting space to share information and explore experiences to find the courage and strength to go on with life. |
| Cost: |
Free |
| Contact: |
For more information, please call 563-421-7970. |
RICK'S HOUSE OF HOPE
| Date: |
Ongoing, varies |
| Time: |
Evenings after school |
| Location: |
4867 Forest Grove Drive, Bettendorf (off Middle Rd.) |
| Contact: |
Denise Tatoian, 324-7504 |
| Comments: |
A comprehensive resource for facilitation and management of grief experienced by children, adolescents, and their families. Activities include crisis intervention, private trauma counseling by a certified trauma specialist, peer support groups, creative expression, "safe" space to vent emotions, a resource library, and seminars. |
| Cost: |
Free. Donations are welcome to assist us in expanding our programs. |
| Contact: |
Robyn at 563-322-5487. |
Other Community Support Groups
LOST CORD CLUB
| Date: |
Dates and times vary |
| Time: |
Call for current information |
| Location: |
Site alternates between Genesis Medical Center and Trinity Medical Center |
| Contact: |
Ron Bear, Genesis Speech & Hearing Department; John Bilefeldt, Trinity Speech & Hearing Department |
| Comments: |
For emotional support and educational development of those who have had a laryngectomy or are facing this surgery. Volunteers also are available to speak with patients before surgery. |
| Cost: |
Free |
| Contact: |
For more information, please call Ron at 563-421-1405 or John at 309-779-2143. |
HEALING LIGHTS CANCER SURVIVOR SUPPORT GROUP
| Date: |
Third Thursday of each month |
| Time: |
6:30 to 9 p.m. |
| Location: |
Pleasant View Baptist Church--Lower Level, 6400 Crow Creek Road, Bettendorf, Iowa. |
| Contact: |
Terry Stanbary |
| Comments: |
Assisting and Encouraging by Emphasizing Spiritual Truths, this group is for cancer survivors and their significant others who are interested in holistic support of body-mind-spirit. Participants are encouraged to bring a favorite Scripture or other spiritual reading to share. |
| Cost: |
Free |
| Contact: |
For more information, please call Terry at 563-505-9346. |
QUAD CITIES CANDLELIGHTERS
| Date: |
Second Tuesday of each month |
| Time: |
7:00 - 9:00 p.m. |
| Location: |
Trinity Medical Center, 7th Street and John Deere Road, Moline |
| Contact: |
Michelle Dayton |
| Comments: |
Support for parents and grandparents of children who have had cancer. |
| Cost: |
Free |
| Contact: |
For more information, please call Michelle at 309-797-9433 or via the internet www.candlelighters.org |
US, TOO, GREATER QUAD CITY CANCER SUPPORT GROUP (Prostate)
| Dates: |
Third Thursdays. Check with Bill for dates and meeting location. |
| Times: |
7:00 - 9:00 p.m. |
| Facilitator: |
Bill Palos |
| Cost: |
Free |
| Contact: |
For more information, please call Bill at 309-799-3621or via the internet www.ustoo.com. |
ONLINE SUPPORT GROUPS
The World Wide Web offers support for cancer patients/survivors and caregivers in a new, easily accessible and reliable manner. Using communication methods of email "groups" (also know as "listservs") or "chats" or "Bulletin Boards", support and contact with other who are in similar circumstances is available virtually 24 hours a day.
One of the largest services available is through the Association of Cancer Resources Inc. or ACOR. As stated on the ACOR site: "The ACOR lists are a group of free, unmoderated discussion list for patients, family, friends, researchers, and physicians, to discuss clinical and non-clinical issues and advances pertaining to all forms of cancer. This includes information about patient experiences, psychosocial issues, new research, clinical trials and discussions of current treatment practices as well as alternative treatments."
If you are a patient or a caregiver looking for information regarding any specific aspect of cancer, you may join one of the lists. To find out the most appropriate list, you can either check an entire listing or you can search by type of disease. The majority of lists primarily focus on a specific type of cancer. ACOR puts great emphasis on the rarer types of cancer and plans to offer support groups for each type of rare cancer.
To access this service click on ACOR.
HOLDEN CANCER CENTER ONLINE SUPPORT GROUP
The Holden Cancer Center at The University of Iowa is currently accepting registrations for an online support group for people affected or impacted by cancer. This is a private, confidential group, and it is free of charge. An oncology social worker, an advanced practice nurse, and two cancer information specialists, all from The Holden Cancer Center, facilitate it at The University of Iowa. The group is very much like a traditional support group in that is usually includes people who been through or are facing a common situation and have come together to share their experiences, learn from each other, and share emotional support with one another.
To register for the online support group, log onto www.cancer.vh.org and click on Support Services. If you would like more information about the Online Support Group, contact Joy Sutter at 563-356-1730.
LEUKEMIA SOCIETY IOWA CITY FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP
| Date: |
First Wednesday of each month |
| Time: |
3:00 - 4:30 p.m. |
| Location: |
East Room, 8008 Colloton Pavilion, University of Iowa, Iowa City |
| Contact: |
Joy Sutter, L.I.S.W |
| Comments: |
For anyone who is dealing with a diagnosis of leukemia, Hodgkin's, lymphoma or multiple myeloma. |
| Cost: |
Free |
| Contact: |
Joy Sutter at 563-356-1730 or Jan Locher at 563-356-4317 or via the internet at www.leukemia-lymphoma.org
|
BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT GROUP: CHOOSING HOPE
| Date: |
Every Wednesday |
| Time: |
3:00 p.m. |
| Location: |
7 Roy Carver West Lounge, University of Iowa, Iowa City |
| Contact: |
Jan Locher |
| Comments: |
Focuses on the needs and concerns of people living with leukemia; and people who have chosen or are thinking about having a bone marrow transplant as a treatment for cancer. |
| Cost: |
Free |
| Phone: |
Jan Locher at 563-356-4317 |
To obtain additional information about Cancer Support services nationally and locally visit www.cancer.org or call 800-ACS-2345.
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