The Wellness Community/Cancer Support Community will be hosting a lecture by Viki Kind “Empowering Caregivers to Make the Best Decisions” on January 18, 2011, 7-8:30PM

The Wellness Community/Cancer Support Community will be hosting a lecture by Viki Kind “Empowering Caregivers to Make the Best Decisions” on January 18, 2011, 7-8:30PM

Cancer Support Community Greater Miami
8609 South Dixie Hwy
Miami, FL 33143
305/668-5900
Fax: 305/668-0048
info@cancersupportcommunitymiami.org
http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org/

If you, or a loved one, are living with cancer, you are not alone. Three out of four families are affected by cancer. It’s a difficult time. Dealing with treatment and its side effects can be a struggle for both patients and families. Juggling family, professional and financial responsibilities can be overwhelming. Coping with the emotional burden can be exhausting.

Too often the practical and medical issues push the psychological issues aside. Patients often keep their deepest fears and worries to themselves, reluctant to share thoughts of hopelessness with family members who are supporting and caring for them. Family members will keep some of their deepest emotions to themselves as well, protecting the patient from feelings of anxiety, despair, and even anger.

There is good news: the Cancer Support Community can help. And it’s FREE.

It’s a place where both patients and family members will find support, education and hope. Support groups address emotional issues for patients and families. Educational workshops get important questions answered in a non-clinical setting. Stress management programs enhance health and well being. Every program is offered free of charge. All are lead by professionals licensed in their fields of expertise.

The comfortable, homelike environment at the Cancer Support Community makes sharing and mutual support easy.

We do not offer medical treatments, alternative treatments, or hospice care. Our services are offered as a compliment to conventional treatment, although anyone undergoing any kind of care is welcome. People come at diagnosis, during or at the end of treatment, at recurrence or several years out of treatment. They all come to learn they are not alone in their fight–whether for physical, emotional or spiritual recovery. Together, they regain a sense of control over their lives and ultimately discover that hope is a valuable tool irrespective of the stage of disease.
Our Mission
To ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community.
“My group is one place where I can be totally honest and feel and express my emotions. I leave feeling cleansed and inspired, hope fresh again.” – Participant, the Cancer Support Wellness Community.

Our Philosophy
“Cancer patients who participate in their fight for recovery, along with their healthcare team, will improve the quality of their lives and may enhance the possibility of their recovery.”
-Harold H. Benjamin, Ph.D.
Founder, The Wellness Community (now known as Cancer Support Community)

Our Beliefs Include:
• Many, many people recover from cancer.
• Cancer patients can benefit from sharing experiences and support with others, and need not be alone.
• Cancer patients can participate in their recovery along with their healthcare team.
• Family members and friends of an individual with cancer, including children, can also benefit from information and support.
There is Hope.
The Cancer Support Community Greater Miami (formerly known as The Wellness Community-Greater Miami) is part of a national organization that has been providing services to adult cancer patients and their loved ones for over 28 years. The first Wellness Community opened in Santa Monica California in 1982. In July 2009, The Wellness Community-National and Gilda’s Club Worldwide joined forces to become the Cancer Support Community.

Today, the Cancer Support Community provides the highest quality emotional and social support through a network of nearly 50 local affiliates, more than 100 satellite locations and online. To find a community-based center in your area, visit www.cancersupportcommunity.org.

The Cancer Support Community-Miami will be hosting a breast cancer lecture 7/14/10 6pm EST

Viki will be hosting a breast cancer lecture at The Cancer Support Community in Greater Miami on July 14, 2010 from 6-8pm EST.

The Cancer Support Community-Greater Miami (formerly known as The Wellness Community-Greater Miami) is part of a national organization that has been providing free services to adult cancer patients and their loved ones for 28 years. The first Wellness Community opened in Santa Monica California in 1982. In July 2009, The Wellness Community-National and Gilda’s Club Worldwide joined forces to become the Cancer Support Community.
Today, the Cancer Support Community provides the highest quality emotional and social support through a network of nearly 50 local affiliates, more than 100 satellite locations and online. To find a community-based center in your area, visit www.cancersupportcommunity.org. the Cancer Support Community can help.

It’s a place where both patients and family members will find support, education and hope. Support groups address emotional issues for patients and families. Educational workshops get important questions answered in a non-clinical setting. Stress management programs enhance health and well being. Every program is offered free of charge. All are lead by professionals licensed in their fields of expertise.

The comfortable, homelike environment at the Cancer Support Community makes sharing and mutual support easy.

They do not offer medical treatments, alternative treatments, or hospice care. Their services are offered as a compliment to conventional treatment, although anyone undergoing any kind of care is welcome. People come at diagnosis, during or at the end of treatment, at recurrence or several years out of treatment. They all come to learn they are not alone in their fight–whether for physical, emotional or spiritual recovery. Together, they regain a sense of control over their lives and ultimately discover that hope is a valuable tool irrespective of the stage of disease.

Have a kind and respectful day.

Great Community Resources Available

I just walked in the Susan G. Komen “Walk for a Cure” with the KFI 640 team. I was amazed at how many organizations were there to help people who are dealing with a medical crisis. If you are dealing with any healthcare situation, not just breast cancer, I want you to know that you are not alone. There are so many groups who want to help you. These are just a few of the many groups I will be adding to my resource page. If there are support groups and resources in your area for any disease, grief issue or caregiver issue, please forward the information to me and I will post it. I thought I would just mention a few that were at today’s event.

For those struggling with finding mastectomy lingerie, I walked with the ladies from DiMurini. What a great group of people. They all wore pink wigs in honor of all those who have struggled with breast cancer. Check out their healing and helpful products at www.dimurini.com

PALS for Health – They provide interpretation services for those who are interacting with their healthcare providers. I met Tina and she was so passionate about helping people be understood. www.palsforhealth.org This is subject is something that is close to my heart. So many people get misdiagnosed or receive inappropriate treatments because of basic language barriers. This is one area that can be solved so easily by getting interpreters into the offices of doctors. If you are the patient’s family member and you are doing the translations, you may be harming your loved one. Unless you are a medical expert, you may not know how to translate the medical terms and information. Ask for a medical interpreter to be provided for your loved one.

Project Angel Food – They deliver food, which has been personalized to the particular health needs of the patient, to the homes of those affected by life-threatening illnesses. www.projectangelfood.org

The Women of Color Breast Cancer Survivor’s Support Project. – They provide emotional support and crisis intervention for women of color in the Inglewood, California area. I met Angie and she was great to talk with about this empowering and compassionate program. www.woc4me.org

The Wellness Community – They provide cancer support, education and hope. They also have bereavement groups for when you are struggling with your grief. I have many friends who have used their services. I didn’t know that they are all over the United States but now that I know, there may be one in your town. www.thewellnesscommunity.org

Again, please let me know who has helped you in your area and I can pass it on to those who are in need.