Support Groups
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The medical aspects of your case will be taken care of with extreme detail. That's easy. Doctors get paid to do a thorough job; be it surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy. However, nobody gets paid for providing emotional support to you, your family or friends. Sometimes doctors, nurses or social workers do this - out of the goodness of their heart. This is beyond the call of duty.
As medicine becomes more like a bottom-line oriented business, the provision of emotional support is becoming a forgotten area in the overall care of the patient. In reality few people do things for free on a routine basis. To be fair, health care workers are continually pre-occupied with life and death decisions of their other patients. Once your surgery has been done and therapy administered, the medical professional must move on as there is always someone else to worry about.
People who have "been there" tend to be very generous with their time and compassion toward others who are currently sick. Support groups are an excellent resource and a good way of getting an idea of what's in store for you and your family. Join one as soon as possible. They can be found on-line (a good place to start) and at most major teaching hospitals.
Support Groups by State
Arizona
Brain Tumor Support Group
St. Joseph's Hospital & Medical Center
350 West Thomas Road, Conference Room 4, 5
Phoenix, AZ
Meets: 4th Tuesday of each month, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Dinner is provided by the hospital
Contact: 602-406-3178
Southern Arizona Brain Tumor Support
Co-sponsored by the Arizona Cancer Center and the Social Work Department of the University Medical Center
Arizona Cancer Center
1515 N. Campbell Avenue, Room 4968
Tuscon, AZ
Meets: 2nd Wednesday morning of every month, 10:30 am - noon
Contact: Marsha Drozdoff, 520-694-4605
California
Brain Tumor Educational Support Group
Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
8631 W. 3rd St.
Suite 830E - Conference Room
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Meets: Quarterly from 6:30 - 8:30 pm
For dates, Contact: Linda O'Connor, LCSW, 310-423-0837
San Francisco Brain Tumor Support Group
UCSF
521 Parnassus Avenue
Medical Science Bldg.
Room C-130
Meets: 1st Wednesday of each month, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
(please call to confirm)
Contact: Sharon Lamb, RN, 415-661-1442 or Mary Lovely, RN, 415-990-4461
The Sacramento Area Brain Tumor Support Group
Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center
4860 Y St., Room 3015
Sacramento, CA
Meets: 1st Thursday of each month from 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Contact: Karen Smith, 916-734-5613
The Wellness Community Brain Tumor Support Group
530 Hampshire Rd.
Westlake Village, CA
Meets: 1st Thursday of each month from 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Contact: Rebecca Dekker, 805-379-4777
Colorado
The Patient & Family Support Group for brain tumor patients
1st Wednesday of the month from 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Swedish Medical Center
501 E. Hampden Avenue
Englewood, CO 80113
Contact: Lorre Gibson, 303-806-7420
Connecticut
Brain Tumor Group at Yale
Yale New Haven Hospital
20 York Street, #201
Meets: 203-737-1671 or 203-688-7528 for dates and times
Florida
Angels in the Sun Support Group
The Wellness Community
3900 Clark Road, Bldg. P-3
Sarasota, FL 34233
Meets: 1st & 3rd Monday of each month from 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Contact: John Kleinbaum, Program Director, 941-921-5539
Angels in the Sun Support Group
St. Anthony's Hospital
Health Care Cancer Center
1301 - 5th Avenue North
St. Petersburg, FL 33705
Meets: 2nd Tuesday of each month from 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Contact: Al Hall, Pastorial Manager, 727-825-1103
Florida Brain Tumor Association –
Gulf Coast Branch Support Group
Healthpark Medical Center, Meeting Room
9981 Healthpark Circle
Ft. Meyers, FL
Meets: 3rd Tuesday of each month from 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Contact: Dona Ross, 239-433-4396
Florida Brain Tumor Association –
North Branch Support Group
Boca Raton Community Hospital
Educational Center, Classroom "D"
800 Meadows Rd.
Boca Raton, FL
Meets: 2nd & 4th Thursday of each month from 7:30 - 9:00 pm
Contact: Sheryl Shetsky, 954-755-4307 or
Gary Kornfeld, 561-798-9434
Florida Brain Tumor Association –
Palm Beach Branch Support Group
Bethesda Hospital
Conference Room, Radiation Oncology Building
Boynton Beach, FL
Meets: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month from 3:00 - 4:30 pm
Contact: Eileen Delrosario, 561-737-7733 ext. 4948
Lake County Brain Tumor Support Group
700 N. Palmetto St.
Leesburg, FL 34748
Meets: 1st Thursday of each month from 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Contact: Terry Andrews, 352-343-9126
Georgia
Brain Tumor Support Group Meeting
for Brain Tumor Survivors, Family, Friends, and Caregivers
The Wellness Community
Peachtree Dunwoody Pavilion
5775 Peachtree Dunwoody RD
Building C, Room 225
Atlanta, Georgia 30342
Meets: 2nd Monday of the month from 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Contact: Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation, 404-843-3700
Illinois
Brain Tumor Support Group
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
251 Huron, Suite 3-520
Chicago, IL
Meets: 3rd Monday of each month from 5:00 - 6:00 pm
Contact: Mary Ellen Maher Deleon, 312-695-8143
Brain Tumor Support Group
for patients dealing with brain tumors
Living Well Cancer Resource Center
1803 West State Street (Route 38)
Geneva, IL 60134
Meets: 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month from 7:30 - 9:00 pm
Contact: 630-933-2874
Indiana
The Indianapolis Brain Tumor Support Group
Community Hospital North Campus Cancer Center
(Off 82nd Street)
Indianapolis, IN
Meets: 3rd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM
Contact: Diana Miller, Co-Facilitator
Iowa
Quad Cities Brain Tumor Support Group
Genesis Medical Center West
Davenport, Iowa
Meets: 4th Monday of each month from 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Contact: Pat Christy, RN, BSN, OCN, 563-421-1905
Kansas
HeadStrong Brain Tumor Support Group
917 N. Market
Wichita, KS
Meets: 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm
Contact: Phyllis Jacobs
Massachusetts
Brain Tumor Survivor Support Group
"The Brainstormers"
196 Main Street
North Andover, MA
Meets: 2nd Saturday of the month, 10 am - Noon
Contact: Debbie DeMella, 617-543-1709
Parent Education/Support Group
(for parents of children with brain tumors)
Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Smith Family Rm.
44 Binney St.
Meets: Call for details
Contact: Heather Budd, 617-632-4217
Brain Tumor Patient and Caregiver Support Group
Massachusetts General Hospital
55 Fruit Street
Yawkey Building, 10th floor
Room 10650
Meets: 2nd and 4th Monday of each month, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Contact: Michele Lucas, MSW, LICSW, 617-726-1061
Brain Tumor Support Group
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Dana Building, 16th Floor
Room D-1635
Meets: 1st Thursday of each month, 12:00 - 1:30 pm
and 3rd Thursday of each month, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Contact: Nancy Olson, RN, MBA, 617-732-6826 or
Nancy DiPerma, LCSW, 617-632-3634
Brain Tumor Patient and Caregiver Support Group
Lahey Clinic Medical Center
41 Mall Road
Burlington, MA 01805
Meets: 1st & 3rd Monday each month, 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Contact: Michele Lucas, MSW, LICSW, 617-726-1061
Brain Tumor Support Group
University of Massachusetts Medical Center
55 Lake Avenue North
Aaron Lazare Research Building
Room 203
Meets: 1st Tuesday of the month, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Contact: Ellen Shorenow, PhD, 508-334-7595
Missouri
Brain Tumor Support Network
Missouri Baptist Medical Center
3015 N. Ballas Rd., Auditorium 2
St. Louis, MO
Meets: 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7:30 - 9:30 pm
Contact: Ginger
Nebraska
Brain Tumor Support Group
For brain tumor patients and their friends, family members and caregivers
Sponsored by Immanuel Medical Center-Alegent Health
Immanuel Medical Center
6901 North 72nd Street
Holling Center-Happy Hollow Room
Omaha, NE 68122
Meets: 3rd Tuesday of each month from 5:00 - 6:00 pm
Light snack provided
Contact: Mary Nastase, 402-572-2768
New Jersey
The Drop-In Brain Tumor Support Group for
Brain Tumor Patients and Family Members
Overlook Hospital Cancer Center
Summit, NJ
Meets: Every other Thursday starting July 27, 2006
10:00 am to 12:30 pm
Contact: Kristen K. Scarlett, MA, LPC, NCC
908-522-5255
Central New Jersey Brain Tumor Support Group
300 Clinton Ave.
North Plainfield, NJ 07060
Meets: 1st Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm
Contact: Virginia or Stan, 908-685-0917 or
Patty Anthony, RN, 732-321-7000 ext. 62874
The Monmouth and Ocean County Brain Tumor Support Group
Wall Township Branch of the Monmouth County Library
2700 Allaire Road
Wall, NJ 07719
Contact: Nancy Conn-Levin or Bruce Blount, 609-758-0806
New York
The Brain Tumor Foundation sponsors:
Coping with a Brain Tumor Support Group
New York, NY
For individuals diagnosed with a benign brain tumor
Meets: Designated Tuesday Evenings, 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Registration required. Contact: Rochelle Guttman at 718-258-7100
Click here for location and meeting dates
The Brain Tumor Foundation sponsors:
Caregiver Support Group
New York, NY
For caregivers of patients with a brain tumor
Meets: Designated Tuesday Evenings, 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Registration required. Contact: Rochelle Guttman at 718-258-7100
Click here for location and meeting dates
New York Brain Tumor Support Group
Supported in part by New York Presbyterian Hospital
New York, NY
Meets: First Wednesday of each month
Contact: Wendy Mitchell, LMSW, 212-746-3986
Long Island Adult Brain Tumor Support Group
999 Old Country Road
Plainview/Old Bethpage Public Library
Plainview, NY
Meets: 1st Thursday of each month
Contact: Donna Lankford, 516-922-4134
The Guardian Brain Foundation Support Group for
Patients with Brain Tumors and Their Families
North Bellmore Public Library
1551 Newbridge Road
North Bellmore, NY
Meets: One day a month from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Contact: Donna Vignola, MSW, LCSW, 631-271-3292 or visit www.guardianbrain.org
The Guardian Brain Foundation Care Together Support Group
Commack Public Library
18 Hauppauge Rd.
Commack, NY
Meets: 1st Tuesday of each month from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Contact: Susan Schell at 631-368-2326
North Carolina
Buddy Kemp Caring House Support Group
242 Colonial Ave.
Charlotte, NC 28207
Meets: 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm
Contact: 704-384-5223
WNC Brain Tumor Support
West Asheville Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall
690 Haywood Rd.
Asheville, NC 28806
Meets: 3rd Thursday of each month from 6:15 - 8:00 pm
Contact: George Plym, 828-691-2559
Ohio
Cleveland Clinic Brain Tumor Support Group
Taussig Cancer Center, R Building
Conference Room R3-003
3rd floor (across from the elevator)
Corner of 90th St and Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, OH
Meets: 4th Wednesday of each month at 5:00 pm
Contact: Kathy Lupica, 216-445-6910
Oklahoma
New Tulsa Strong Mind, Strong Body, Strong Spirit Support Group
For brain tumor patients and caregivers
Various locations in the Tulsa area
Meets: 4th Thursday of every month at 6:00 pm
Contact: Renay Logan, Patient Navigator, 405-843-4673 to RSVP
Oklahoma City Strong Mind, Strong Body, Strong Spirit Support Group
For brain tumor patients and caregivers
Various locations in Oklahoma City
Meets: 2nd Thursday of every month at 6:00 pm
Contact: 405-843-4673 for location and to RSVP
Oregon
Portland, Oregon Brain Tumor Support Group
Good Samaritan Hospital
Comprehensive Cancer Center
2nd Floor Conference Room
1130 NW 22nd Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97210
Meets: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month from 4:00 - 5:30 pm
Contact: Dawn Brucker, 503-413-7753
Pennsylvania
Brain Tumor Support Group Of The Lehigh Valley
St. John's Lutheran Church
501 Chestnut St.
Emmaus, PA
Meets: 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm
Contact: Dolores Fioriglio, 610-776-2566
Pittsburgh Area Brain Tumor Support Group
Bloomfield Center
4117 Liberty Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA
Meets: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Contact: Bonnie
Tennessee
Memphis Regional Brain Tumor Survivors Group
Colonial Park Methodist Church
5330 Park Ave
Memphis, TN 38119
Meets: 1st Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm
Contact: Cherry Welborn at 901-757-0806 or midsouth-brain@hotmail.com
Texas
Central Texas Brain Tumor Support Group
The Brain & Spine Center at Brackenridge Hospital
(Home of the CyberKnife)
3rd Floor Boardroom
601 E. 15th Street
Austin, Texas 78701
No fee and open to all.
Contact: Thomas & Joan Lewman, 512-636-3015 or 512-636-1578
Website: www.txbraintumor.org
Dallas/Metroplex Brain Tumor Support Group
8900 John Carpenter Frwy.
Dallas, TX
Meets: 2nd Wednesday of each month from 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Contact: Alice Anderson
Grey Matters North Texas Brain Tumor Support Group
HealthSouth Plano Rehabilitation Hospital
2800 W. 15th Street
Plano, TX 75075
Meets: 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Contact: Dr. Jay Duhon, 972-769-8940
Houston Area Brain Tumor Network Support Group
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Blvd.
Houston, TX
Meets: 1st Tuesday of each month from 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Contact: Donna Suckow, 713-792-0760 or
Susana Lee, 713-794-1777
San Antonio Brain Tumor Support Group
CTRC Building
Corner of Wurzbach & Floyd Curl
San Antonio, TX
Meets: 1st Tuesday of each month from 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Contact: Carolyn Hutto
Brain Tumor Patient/Survivor Support Group
Warm Springs Rehabilitation Hospital
1st Floor Resource Center
5101 Medical Drive
San Antonio, TX
Meets: 2nd Tuesday of each month, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Contact: Teresa Zdansky, 830-779-3059 or 210-386-5608
Virginia
Brain Tumor Group
Life with Cancer Family Center
INOVA Health System
2832 Juniper St.
Merrifield, VA
Meets: 1st Tuesday of the month
Contact: Vera Hirschman, R.N., 703-776-3425
Online Support Groups
Astrocytoma (Pilocytic) Yahoo Support Group For adults, parents and caregivers who have a loved one who has been diagnosed with this specific type of tumor. Membership required.
BRAINTMR Mailing List from The Healing Exchange Brain Trust
Craniopharyngioma Online Support Group
Ependymoma People - An online "chat" forum for the discussion of ependymoma tumors
Hypothalamic Hamartoma Online Support Group: rwdavis@logan.net or llamp@ior.com
Meningioma Mommas Discussion Board
Meningioma Mailing List from Johns Hopkins Medicine