Support groups

Receiving a diagnosis of cancer may be one of the most disruptive changes to anyone’s life. Where to turn for support? What services are available? How will it affect day-to-day life?

At VCU Massey Cancer Center, we provide services to help patients and families cope with the daily problems that can happen when facing cancer.

Massey offers a wide variety of support services, including free support groups. These groups are formed based on the needs and interests of our patients. Please call our resource librarians at (804) 828-8709 to express your support group needs and to learn about existing support groups. If you reside outside of the Richmond area, please contact your local chapter of the American Cancer Society or local hospitals for resources available in your community.

Current cancer support groups at Massey

• A support group provided by Massey for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers and anyone else affected by cancer is held at Massey in the Thalhimer Conference Room, 131, of the Goodwin Research Laboratory on Wednesdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Contact Connie Macaluso at (804) 628-2106 and cmmacaluso@vcu.edu, Karen Mullin at (804) 828-1066 and kmullin@mcvh-vcu.edu, or Shalema Taylor at (804) 828-2511 and storbert@mcvh-vcu.edu for details. The meetings will offer open and confidential discussions, guest speakers and cancer-related topics as well as the opportunity to find support and network with others who share similar experiences. Light refreshments are served. 
• A support group provided by Massey for cancer patients and their families is held at VCU Medical Center every Thursday at 6 p.m., September to May. Contact Valerie Cauthorne at (804) 828-9119 for more details and to register.
• A breast cancer support group provided by Massey is held on the second Monday of every month from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Conference Room at the Memorial Regional Medical Center in Mechanicsville. Contact Karen Mullin at (804) 559-1841 for details.
• A support group provided by Massey for cancer patients is held every Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Conference Room at the Memorial Regional Medical Center in Mechanicsville. Contact Karen Mullin at (804) 559-1841 for details.

Please call to confirm time and location, as these meetings are subject to change to best suit the needs of attendees.

Look Good... Feel Better workshops

Look Good... Feel Better (LGFB) programs are available for women and men and offer practical guidelines to help deal with some of the side effects of cancer treatment – skin changes, hair loss, stress and other issues. In particular, the women’s program teaches beauty techniques that combat the appearance-related side effects of cancer.

These workshops are free, but registration is required. Patients should be undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments, or recently finished with their treatments, to participate.

For complete information, contact Look Good... Feel Better, and view the details for the area in which you live.