Support GroupsSkagit Valley Hospital Regional Cancer Care Center offers multiple support groups to help meet the emotional needs of patients and caregivers. All programs are free of charge. For additional information on any of these services or events please contact Cancer Care Community Outreach at
360-814-8287.
Cancer Transitions™
Tai Chi & Qigong Class
CLIMB: Children's Lives Include Moments of Bravery
Art & Healing
Look Good, Feel Better
Women's Cancer Support Group
Helping Her Heal
When Mommy or Daddy Get Cancer
New Program!
Cancer Transitions™ is a free 2-hour, six-week workshop designed to help cancer survivors make the transition from active treatment to post-treatment care. Expert panelist will discuss exercise tailored to each participant’s abilities, training in relaxation and stress management and tips for nutritious eating. Cancer Transitions will answer many of your questions about cancer survivorship post-cancer treatment. The course covers the following topics:
Session 1: Get Back to Wellness: Take Control of Your Survivorship
Session 2: Exercise for Wellness: Customized Exercise
Session 3: Emotional Health and Well-Being: From Patient to Survivor
Session 4: Nutrition Beyond Cancer
Session 5: Medical Management Beyond Cancer: What You Need to Know
Session 6: Life Beyond Cancer
This class is free and open to men and women who have experienced any type of cancer. Participants must be at least 21 years of age and pre-registration is required. A light dinner is provided. Spring 2012 class meets Wednesdays on April 18, 26, May 2, 9, 16 and 23. For more information about upcoming programs or to register, please call Amber Ford, LICSW, at 360-814-8255.
Tai Chi & Qigong Class
Tai Chi and Qigong are traditional Chinese exercises that have been a daily prescription for health and longevity for hundreds of years. This class focuses on balance, posture, relaxation, breathing, and visual and mental concentration. The elements of Tai Chi and Qigong help the immune system, central nervous system, blood supply and circulation, as well as strengthen bones, joints, and tendons. The movements are slow in tempo, very low impact on the body, and can be done standing or seated. Tai Chi is offered once a week for six weeks and pre-registration is required. Please call 360-814-8287 to sign up! Next class begins April 2012. The class is held in the Safeway Conference Room (third floor) at Skagit Valley Hospital Regional Cancer Care Center. Instructor: Bob Shapiro.
Art and Healing
First and third Mondays of each month, 2 – 4 p.m. in the Safeway Conference Room (third floor) at the Regional Cancer Care Center. Our knowledgeable instructor has been doing art therapy with cancer patients for over ten years. Creating art may reduce anxiety and stress plus improve emotional well-being. It is a great opportunity to process and integrate the challenges of serious illness and treatment. Please note that artistic “skills” are not required! Instructor: Margaret Carpenter Arnett, BSN, ATR.
Look Good, Feel Better
Cancer can rob a woman of her energy, appetite and strength. But it doesn’t have to take away her self-confidence. This program teaches beauty techniques to women in active treatment or those who are about to start treatment. It helps them combat the appearance-related side effects of treatment.
The Look Good, Feel Better sessions are led by trained, volunteer cosmetologists who teach women how to cope with skin changes and hair loss using cosmetics and skin care products donated by the cosmetic industry. Women also learn ways to disguise hair loss with wigs, scarves and other accessories. Pre-registration is required; please call 360-814-8287. Held the fourth Monday of each month from 1 - 3 p.m. Skagit Valley Hospital Regional Cancer Care Center Safeway Conference Room (3rd floor.) Evening classes available from 5-7 p.m. in March, June and September..
Click here to watch a video about the Look Good, Feel Better program.
Women's Cancer Support Group - new schedule
Second Monday of each month from 5 – 6:30 p.m. in the Safeway Conference Room (third floor) at the Regional Cancer Care Center. This group is for women who are undergoing treatment for, or have experienced breast, ovarian, uterine, or cervical cancer. Facilitated by Amber Ford, LICSW, OSW-C Oncology Social Worker, with guest speakers arranged. Call 360-814-8255 for additional information. Group does not meet in December.
CLIMB®: Children’s Lives Include Moments of Bravery
Sponsored by the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation
CLIMB is a special support program for children ages 6-12 who have a parent or guardian undergoing cancer treatment. The CLIMB program was developed by the Children’s Treehouse Foundation, a non-profit foundation dedicated to the emotional support of children who have parents with cancer. Our facilitators have received special training and resources to provide this program.
The CLIMB program offers two-hour group meetings every week for a period of six weeks and dinner is provided for participants. Each child is provided their own workbook to capture their progress, which they can share with their family at home. Additional resources are provided to the parent or guardian for education and support.
This program is being offered free of charge and is funded by the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation. As an organization, we recognize that cancer affects the entire family and desire to provide support at multiple levels. Receiving treatment at Skagit Valley Hospital is not a requirement to participate.
The program will be offered again in Summer 2012; please contact facilitator for dates. For more information about the CLIMB program or to register your child, please contact Amber Ford, Oncology Social Worker, at 360-814-8255. Pre-registration is required. You can download a brochure about CLIMB here.
Family Support Programs
Helping Her Heal: A Program for Spouses of Women with Breast Cancer
The woman you care about has breast cancer. n addition to questions you have about her health, you may also be wondering about the best way to support her through this experience. Helping Her Heal is a research study designed to help you support the woman you love (wife or partner) and add to ways to deal with the impact of breast cancer in your everyday lives.
The Helping Her Heal Program is available to men who are married to or in a committed, partnered relationship with a woman who is:
- Diagnosed with early stage breast cancer (Stage 0, 1, 2, 3)
- Within 6 months of her first diagnosis of breast cancer
- Living in the Puget Sound area
- Can speak and read English
The Helping Her Heal Program is available at no charge. Download a brochure here.
To talk with someone further about enrolling in this study, please contact Mary Ellen Shands, RN, MN at 206-685-0837.
This program is offered in partnership by the Swedish Cancer Institute, the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and the University of Washington School of Nursing.
When Mommy or Daddy Get Cancer: A Cancer Parenting Program
You have cancer. In addition to questions you have about your health, you may also be wondering about the best way to handle the cancer with your children. When Mommy or Daddy Get Cancer is a program designed to assist you in helping your 5 to 12 year old with your cancer.
The When Mommy or Daddy Get Cancer program is available to parents who have a 5 to 12 year old and who are:
- Diagnosed with early stage (Stage 0, 1, 2, 3) cancer. The non-ill parent of the child may participate if the ill parent is unavailable.
- Within 7 months of diagnosis
- Living in the Pacific Northwest
When Mommy or Daddy Get Cancer is offered at no charge. Download a brochure here.
To talk with someone further about enrolling in this study, please contact Mary Ellen Shands, RN, MN at 206-559-9671 or toll-free at 1-866-577-8062.
This program was made available through a grant from the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
