Though most breast cancer patients state that their families act as a major support system as they cope with the complex emotions and often debilitating treatments that a diagnosis entails, they find that only fellow patients can fully relate to this struggle. Local breast cancer support groups are an excellent resource that enable fellow patients this kind of therapeutic interaction.
Cape Regional Medical Center, in particular, plays host to a monthly support group meeting through which both patients and their caregivers find strength and knowledge necessary to endure daily tribulations. Gloria Schultz acts as Program Navigator of the group and was happy to share specifics about the resources the program offers.
The Cape Regional Breast Cancer Support Group meets the second Tuesday of each month from 2 to 3 p.m. and provides “an open forum for the ladies to share and discuss their problems and issues,” explains Gloria. There are approximately thirty five to forty women who are members of the support group. “They often help each other with suggestions and feel free to ask questions,” she continues. The group can be best described as self-run by the patients themselves. “I like to let the ladies mentor one another,” states Gloria. Group members are also encouraged to bring caregivers to the meetings along with them so that loved ones assisting cancer patients can also share their struggles and counsel one another on how to cope best.
Those who are in the stages of diagnosis or treatment as well as survivors have been participants and are more than welcome.
This is Cape Regional’s fifth grant year through the Susan G. Komen Program, and this particular cancer support group has been in effect for four years now. Komen Program coordinators were actually inspired to begin the support group after three women were screened and then diagnosed with breast cancer in the program’s first year. “We thought, okay, now what do we do? We can’t just leave them out there by themselves to figure things out… so, we started a support group,” explains Gloria. Today, the group plays a major role in spreading awareness for the importance and availability of mammograms.
The October meeting featured a “celebration” of all group members in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Throughout the course of the year, the program presents speakers on a number of breast cancer related issues including nutrition, exercise, treatment, pharmaceutical questions, and relaxation.
The Cape Regional Medical Center Breast Cancer Support Group meets in the Maruchi Room at Cape Regional the second Tuesday of each month. For more information on the group’s resources and schedule of speakers, call (609) 463-4043.
West Cape May – Please clean up your entrance and parking lot! It's a disgrace to the community.
