Ongoing Support Groups
No one understands what a cancer patient is feeling and thinking as well as another cancer patient.
Realizing this, the Cancer Resource Center offers a wide array of support groups and programs that give the patients and their families the opportunity to gather and share.
Metastatic Breast Cancer Support Group
Share experiences with other women who have metastatic or recurrent breast cancer. Facilitator: oncology social worker. No registration required.
1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month 1:00 - 2:30 pm
Us Too/Man to Man: Prostate Cancer Support Group
Discussion group for men and their spouses or significant others. Co-sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Facilitators: prostate cancer survivor and oncology social worker. No registration required. 4th Tuesday of every month 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Early Stage Breast Cancer Support Group
Women with breast cancer discuss sexuality, self-esteem, emotional changes, as well as effective coping techniques. Facilitator: oncology social worker. No registration required.
1st and 3rd Monday of every month 5:00 - 6:30 pm
Reiki
Enjoy a free half-hour of Reiki, a gentle, non-invasive, ancient form of healing. By appointment only. Please call 703.558.6284. Second Friday of every month, 7:00-9:00pm
Write Away Group
Writers or aspiring writers with breast cancer meet and share what they have written about diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. View a published poem, "Rose", by a member of the Write Away Group! Call 703.558.5555 for meeting time and place. Second Monday of every month, 5:30-7:00 pm
We Can Cope
Meet other people with cancer and their families to receive emotional support. Facilitator: healthcare professional/cancer survivor. No registration required.
1st and 3rd Thursdays of every month 7:30 - 9:00 pm
Healing Through Art
Kimberly Hanrahan-Havern, MAATR-BC, art therapist facilitates a group using art to cope with cancer diagnosis and treatment. Third Wednesday of every month, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Lymphoma Support Group
For persons diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Co-sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America. Facilitators: oncology nurse and oncology social worker. 4th Wednesday of every month 4:00 - 5:30 pm
Gentle Touch for Cancer Patients
A certified massage therapist conducts sessions featuring message therapy and nurturing holding techniques. Physician approval required. By appointment only. Call 703.558.6284.
All Programs are free to participants.
This web site has a wealth of information to help you better understand your disease and treatments. By searching under Medical Services, you can get up-to-date information on our personnel, technology and services for cancer patients, learn about support groups and seminars and read recent cancer-related articles.
Check out the Health Encyclopedia for understandable, reliable information on virtually every type of cancer, including illustrations of anatomy, procedures and tests. You can read about risk factors for various forms of cancer, and get step-by-step instructions on how to conduct breast self-examination and other self-detection procedures.
Under the Class & Events Calendar heading you'll find our Oncology Support Groups & Classes, which details the many events coming up at Virginia Hospital Center specifically for cancer patients. The American Cancer Society works closely with the Cancer Center to offer several of these programs and groups, in addition to hosting an Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Conference at Virginia Hospital Center.
The hours of operation are Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm or by appointment. For information on these support groups and other programs, please contact the Cancer Center at 703.558.5555.