The following are support groups offered through UChicago. For a list of additional resources, click here.
Breast Cancer Network of Strength Sessions
The UCCCC offers a series of educational sessions for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, as well as for family members and friends of women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. These sessions take place Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. For a schedule of upcoming sessions, visit the Cancer Resource Center public events calendar.
Breast Cancer Reach to Recovery Program
Reach to Recovery is designed to help women - and men - with breast cancer cope with their diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. A volunteer will meet with the patient either face-to-face or by telephone to provide support and up-to-date information, including literature for spouses, partners, children, friends, and other loved ones. The program uses carefully selected and trained volunteers who have fully adjusted to their breast cancer surgery and treatment experience. For more information on upcoming sessions, visit the Cancer Resource Center public events calendar.
Facing the Mirror with Cancer
Led by Lori Orvitz, professional make-up artist and author of the book Facing the Mirror With Cancer, this session is a private, complementary make-up program to teach cancer patients how to overcome visual side effects of treatment. Sessions are scheduled by appointment only. For more information or to schedule a session, call Lori Ovitz at 1-312-214-3545.
General Cancer Support Group
This outpatient support group welcomes people with any cancer diagnosis to come together for support. This group provides a safe and confidential environment for patients to express concerns and ask questions. The group meets the first Thursday of every month at 12:00 p.m. in the DCAM building room #1402. Call 1-877-824-0660 with questions. Lunch is provided.
Gilda's Club Chicago
The Gilda's Club mission is to create welcoming communities of free support for everyone living with cancer - men, women, teens, and children - along with their families and friends. Their innovative program is an essential complement to medical care, providing networking and support groups, workshops, education, and social activities. Membership and the program are free of charge. They offer support and networking groups, lectures, workshops, and social events in a home-like clubhouse.
The University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC), UCCCC, and Gilda's Club Chicago formed a partnership to provide oncology patients and their families onsite access to Gilda's Club Chicago's support community. Activities offered at the UCMC include support and networking groups facilitated by a licensed mental health professional, healing art, and movement classes, such as yoga, and various other programs and workshops. These sessions occur every Wednesday between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. For more information visit the Cancer Resource Center public events calendar.
Head and Neck Cancer Support Group
This outpatient support group provides a safe environment where those with cancer can share common concerns and strengthen their ability to adjust to life with cancer. Topics include changes in relationships, lifestyle changes, communication, body image, managing stress, fear of recurrence, and coping techniques. These sessions occur the fourth Tuesday of every month between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. For more information, visit the Cancer Resource Center public events calendar.
Look Good...Feel Better
This free, non-medical, product-neutral program is offered in partnership with the American Cancer Society, National Cosmetology Association, and The Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association Foundation. Look Good...Feel Better trained, volunteer cosmetologists teach women how to cope with skin changes and hair loss using cosmetics and skin care products donated by the cosmetic industry. It is a free program that teaches beauty techniques to women cancer patients in active treatment to help them combat the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment. Groups meet the first Monday of every month at 10:00 a.m. in the DCAM building room #1402. To register, call 1-877-824-0660.
Lung Cancer Networking Lunch
This support group provides an opportunity for people who have been diagnosed with lung cancer to share information, resources, and experiences. Participants may learn about nutrition during treatment, ways to prevent fatigue, and other helpful topics. These sessions occur on the second Wednesday of every month at 12:00 p.m. Lunch is provided. For more information, visit the Cancer Resource Center public events calendar.
Self-Hypnosis Workshop
This free workshop is offered to individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer. C. Scot Giles, certified hypnotist and board-certified chaplain, teaches self-hypnosis as a technique to help individuals embrace optimism during cancer treatment and also to manage sleep disorders, anxiety, and other conditions that cancer patients may experience. These sessions occur on the fourth Saturday of every month from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. For more information, visit the Cancer Resource Center public events calendar.
Smoking Cessation Program
The University of Chicago offers an individualized, comprehensive approach to help patients overcome their addiction to nicotine. The Tobacco Cessation Program is designed to help people quit smoking within two to three sessions. The program's multidisciplinary team comprises physicians, nurses, and tobacco treatment specialists. Social workers are also available to help patients access resources as needed. To request an appointment or to refer a patient, complete the Tobacco Cessation Program referral form and fax it to 1-773-834-0242.
Women's Cancer Support Group
This outpatient support group provides a safe environment where those with cancer can share common concerns and strengthen their ability to adjust to life with cancer. Topics include changes in relationships, lifestyle changes, communication, body image, managing stress, fear of recurrence and coping techniques. These sessions occur on the second and fourth Monday of every month from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more information, visit the Cancer Resource Center public events calendar.
