Joining a cancer support group can be one of the best ways to cope with your diagnosis, treatment and post-treatment issues. Support groups allow you to connect with others who are going through the same experience and empower you to move beyond your diagnosis and face the challenges, head on.

General and New Patient

• Cancer Support Group meets the first Monday of every month from 2 – 4 pm at Greenburg Conference Room, Franklin Hospital, 900 Franklin Avenue, Valley Stream. Please call 516-256-6397 for more information. Note: If the meeting falls on a holiday, we will reconvene the following Monday.
• Cancer Support Group meets at Forest Hills Hospital, 102-01 66th Road, Forest Hills. Please call 718-830-4140 for dates and times. 
• Oncology Support Group meets every Wednesday at 7 pm at the Women's Health Center, Huntington Hospital, 270 Park Avenue, Huntington. Please contact Susan Degnan, LMSW, at 631-351-2013. For patients with cancer and/or family members.  
• Cancer Support Group. Second Monday of the month (October meeting is 3rd Monday). No meetings July and August. Staten Island University Hospital, Nalitt Center, 2nd floor library room, 256C Mason Avenue, Staten Island, NY, 12 - 1:30 pm. For more details, please call our Cancer Information Line at 718-226-8888

Bereavement

• Bereavement Group for persons learning to live with the loss of a parent, spouse, sibling, grandparent or another significant loved one to cancer, offers eight-week sessions, twice a year in the spring and fall. The group is limited to a maximum of 15 persons, who agree to attend the full eight-week session and who may join three months after the death of a loved one at Southside Hospital. For more information, please call Barbara Redmond, R.N., B.S.N., at 631-630-3835. 
• Bereavement Group meets for 8 weeks, Mondays, twice a year, Women's Health Center, Huntington Hospital.  Please contact Sue Degnan, LMSW, OSW-L, NBFC. 631-351-2013.  
• Compassionate Friends. Meets every third Friday of each month from 8 - 10 p.m.  For people who have lost children to an illness or disease.  For more information please call Marlene Ripka at (718) 767-0904.

Bone Marrow Transplant Support Group (BMT) 

• BMT Orientation for patients facing bone marrow transplantation and their families, 7 Monti,  North Shore University Hospital .  Please call Sharon Daneshgar, CSW, at 516-562-8715 for date, time and registration.  
   
• Post-BMT Support Group  meets monthly on the following Thursdays – November 4th, December 9th and January 6, 2011, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the  Monter Cancer Center  Conference Room, 450 Lakeville Road, Lake Success, NY 11042.  For more information and to  register, please call Jamie LaMarca LMSW, at 516-562-8429 .     

Breast Cancer

• Breast Cancer Support Group for patients, survivors and their families, in partnership with Islip Breast Cancer Coalition, meets weekly from 7 to 8:30 pm in the 5-Tower Classroom, Southside Hospital, 301 East Main Street, Bay Shore. For specific days and more information about programs offered by the Coalition, please call 631-968-7424. 

•  Breast Cancer Series meets weekly, 5:30  to 7:00 pm, at North Shore University Hospital-Sandra Atlas Bass Campus, Radiation Oncology Department, 300 Community Drive, Manhasset. Please call 516-562-2825 for dates and pre-registration. 
• Breast Cancer Support Group I meets on the second and fourth Thursday of each month, 5:30 to 7:00 pm at 1 North, Huntington Hospital, 270 Park Avenue, Huntington. Please contact Gail Probst, RN, at 631-351-2568 or Judy Koles, RN, at 631-351-2564. For the newly diagnosed breast cancer patient (up to one year post diagnosis). 
• Breast Cancer Support Group II meets on the third Thursday of each month, 7 to 9 pm at 1 South Conference Room # 1, Huntington Hospital, 270 Park Avenue, Huntington. Please contact Toni Lico at 631-757-4581. Informal discussion for women diagnosed with breast cancer more than one year ago.
• Sisters of Greater Long Island meets the fourth Monday of the month, 7 pm at Trailer #1, Huntington Hospital, 270 Park Avenue, Huntington. ALSO AT: Babylon Pool and Recreation Center, Phelps Lane, Deer Park on the second Monday of the month at 7 pm. Please contact: Pamela: 516-606-2685; Mary: 631-643-6702; or Cynthia: 631-351-2343. All African-American Breast Cancer Survivors Organization.  
• Beyond Breast Cancer meets twice monthly on Tuesdays, 5:30 to 7 p.m. at North Shore University Hospital-Sandra Atlas Bass Campus. Please contact Gina DiVincenzo, LCSW, at 516-562-2825 for exact locations and registration. Discussion group for women diagnosed with breast cancer that are completing their treatment process and beyond.
• Breast Cancer Support Group. Last Saturday of every month. No meetings July and August. Staten Island University Hospital, Nalitt Center, 2nd floor library room, 256C Mason Avenue, Staten Island, NY, 12 - 1:30 pm. For more details, please call our Cancer Information Line at 718-226-8888.

Cancer Survivors

• Beyond Breast Cancer meets twice monthly on Tuesdays, 5:30 to 7 p.m. at North Shore University Hospital-Sandra Atlas Bass Campus. Please contact Gina DiVincenzo, LCSW, at 516-562-2825 for exact locations and registration. Discussion group for women diagnosed with breast cancer that are completing their treatment process and beyond.
• Cancer Survivors Support  Group. Meets on the second Thursday of every month, 6 -8 pm. Contact Barbara Casey at 516-541-4673 or Catherine Case at 516-795-4614 for more information.

Caregivers/Patients Support

• Newly Diagnosed or In-Treatment Support Group For Patients/Caregivers meets bi-monthly Thursdays, 5 - 6:30 pm, at the Monter Conference Room, Monter Cancer Center, 450 Lakeville Road, Lake Success. Please call 516-734-8812 for information. This is an ongoing group for patients, families and friends newly affected by cancer. There is a voluntary $10 donation fee, which is deductible if paid by check. 
• People Living with Cancer and Caregivers Group. Meets second Tuesday of the month, 5:30 - 7 p.m., Monter Cancer Center Conference Room, 450 Lakeville Road, Lake Success. Must pre-register. Please contact Kathi Morse, LCSW or Donna Vignola, LCSW, at 516-734-8817.
• Patient/Caregivers' Program. Second Wednesday of the month, 2 - 3:30 p.m., Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Oncology Building, 3rd floor. Must pre-register by calling Sharon Lerman, LCSW, at 718-470-8964.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) 

• CLL Support Program. Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 5:30 to 6:30 pm. 410 Lakeville Road, Suite 200. Must pre-register by calling 718-470-4050.

Laryngectomy Support Group

• Hearing and Speech Center, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Thursdays, 10:30 - 11:30 am. Must pre-register by calling 718-470-8631.

Lymphoma

• Lymphoma Management Support Group for lymphoma patients and their families. 7 Monti, North Shore University Hospital.  Please call Sharon Daneshgar, CSW, at 516-562-8715 for date, time and registration details.

Ostomy Support Group

• Meets on the third Monday of the month at 7:30 pm. 1 South Conference Room, Huntington Hospital. Please contact Maria Farruto, RN, at 631-351-2374. No reservation/registration required. 

Pain Management

• Pain Management Support Group for patients dealing with chronic pain and their families. Southside Hospital, 301 East Main Stret Meets the second Wednesday of every month from 3 to 4 pm. Please call Kathy Catalano, Assistant Nurse Manager at 631-968-3060, 631-675-4510 or kcalalano@nshs.edu; or Anne Miglio at 631-968-3060, 631-675-4510 or amiglio@nshs.edu.

Prostate Cancer

• Prostate Cancer Support Group. Southside Hospital. Please call Michael Interrante at 631-968-3636. 
• Prostate Cancer Support and Education Group. Third Wednesday of the month, 3:30 -5:30 p.m., Monter Cancer Center Conference Room, 450 Lakeville Road, Lake Success. Must pre-register. Please contact Kathi Morse, LCSW at 516-734-8817.
• Prostate Cancer Support Group. Second Monday of every month. No meetings July and August. Staten Island University Hospital, Nalitt Center, 2nd floor library room, 256C Mason Avenue, Staten Island, NY, 7 - 9 p.m. For more details, please call our Cancer Information Line at 718-226-8888

Smoking Cessation/Weight Loss

• Green Seminar. A program to help you stop smoking and lose weight. The group meets the first Tuesday of the month from 7 to 9 pm in the Board Room/Eatery, Southside Hospital. For more information, reservations and one-time fee, call 631-968-3477 or 800-342-1303. 
• Nicotine Anonymous. Forest Hills Hospital. Please call 718-830-4140 for more information.
• Nicotine Anonymous. Huntington Hospital. Every  Wednesday 7:30 to 8:30 pm in Trailer #1.
• Smoking Cessation for People with Cancer. 7 - 8 p.m., Center for Tobacco Control, 25 Community Drive. Please call 516-466-1980 for dates and pre-registration. 
  

• Grupo de Apoyo de Mqjeres Latinas con Cancer en los Sonos; Huntington Hospital. Para mas informacion, par favor de llamar a Carmen al (63I) 951-6908. 

Young Adult 

• Young Adult Support Group. Meets second Tuesday of the month, 7:30 to 8:30 pm, at North Shore University Hospital-Sandra Atlas Bass Campus. Please call Sharon Daneshgar, LCSW or Angela da Silva, MSW, at 516-562-8715.  

Wellness

• Move, Soothe & Heal. An uplifting and therapeutic dance exercise program for women who are cancer survivors or who are managing a chronic illness. Meets eight Tuesdays, January thorugh March, 2 - 3 p.m., Monter Cancer Center Conference Room, 450 Lakeville Road, Lake Success. Must pre-register. Please call Sharon Epstein, 516-829-5846. Sharon Epstein, LCAT, BC-DMT, RYT, is a board-certified dance movement therapist and registered yoga teacher. Classes are $15 per class, or $80 for eight classes.
• Relaxation Classes. Monter Cancer Center Conference Room, 450 Lakeville Road, Lake Success. Please call 516-734-8812 for information. Please call Donna Vignola, LCSW at 516-734-8816 for dates and times.
• Path to Wellness After Cancer. Tuesday, February 2, 2010, 5:50 - 7 p.m., Long Island Jewish Medical Center Teaching Center Board Room.  Please pre-register by calling 718-470-8964 or 516-734-8816.

American Cancer Society's “Look Good, Feel Better” program

• Franklin Hospital. 900 Franklin Avenue, Valley Stream. Third Monday of the month, 1 - 3 p.m.
• Huntington Hospital. 1 North. Every other month from 6 to 8 p.m. call Gail Probst at 631-351-2568 for more information and to register.  Program held in January, March, May,  July, September and November.
• Monter Cancer Center, Monter Cancer Conference Room, January 25 and February 22, 2010, 1 - 3 p.m. Must pre-register. Please contact Kathi Morse, LCSW at 516-734-8817.
• Plainview Hospital. Meets the second Monday every OTHER month, 3 - 5 p.m.January 25 and February 22, 2010 1 - 3 p.m. For more information please call the American Cancer Society at 800-227-2345.
• Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Radiation Oncology Conference Room, Monday, February 8, 2010, 1:30 - 3 p.m. Must pre-register by calling 718-470-8964 or 718-470-7093.
• Southside Hospital, 2 North Conference Room, Southside Hospital. Meets the third Monday evening of every other month, from 6-8PM. Interested parties must pre-register by contacting ACS at 1-800-227-2345.