Greetings UCSF,

Happy New Year!!!

The Patient and Family Cancer Support Center

We want you to know that we are still here for you!

Walk-In Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday

10:00 am – 2:00 pm

(However, stop by anytime the doors are open)

• Come see the many resources and support services available to you and your family members.
• Come and visit a comfortable resting area.
• Come check your MyChart or emails.
• Or stop by just to say Hi.

If you happen to miss us, we may be reached by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at 415-885-3693. Our Social Workers are available to help you navigate the challenges you may be facing, we have a wonderful Peer Support Program, and our Psycho-Oncologists are conducting therapy sessions online, via Zoom.

New Year, New Beginnings Mini Meditation 

by Michael Alperstein

January is a time for starting over. We all know this plan doesn’t always last. The game-changer is connecting with your deepest intention throughout the year.

In this instant, here and now, I invite you to take a deep breath and ask yourself: If I could experience a powerful inner transformation in 2024, in my heart of hearts what would I want to experience?

Take another slow, deep breath. Let your answer bubble up naturally. Do a mental reset. Relax your shoulders. Stretch your arms. Treat your actions as sacred and special. Come back to the Home in your heart. This is where your deepest intention for joy resides.

Whisper three times: “I trust my path and act on my goals with passion and purpose.”

Remain here every day. Don’t worry about “the whole year.” Take this experience deep into the here and now and your intention will bubble up and support you throughout the year. See each moment as a fresh start. Read this newsletter with new eyes. Commit to genuine gratitude self-love, and joy in 2024 and beyond. 

UPCOMING

The Art of Natural Gratitude

An In-person Guided Meditation with author, Michael Alperstein

Thursday, February 8th | 2:00 – 3:00 pm

Location:

The Patient and Family Cancer Support Center

Mission Bay Campus

1825 4th Street, 1st Floor Rm., M1210, San Francisco

To register or for more information, call: 415-885-3693

or email us at [email protected]

Please Note:

Space is limited. Masking and social distancing is not mandatory at this time, but may be reinforced if mandates change.

Notary Services at the

Patient and Family Cancer Support Center (PFCSC) 

PFCSC Notary is able to provide acknowledgment for patients who have completed Advance Health Care Directives (AHCD) at no cost.

The Notary's duty is to screen those signing documents for their true identity, their willingness to sign without duress or intimidation, and their awareness of the contents of the document or transaction (needed identification is listed below). 

What are the requirements to get Notary Services at the PFCSC?

• Patient must be a UCSF Cancer Center patient.
• Patient must come to the PFCSC suite at UCSF Mission Bay (exceptions)
• Patient must have a scheduled appointment with PFCSC Notary prior arriving to the PFCSC. 

LL

How do I schedule an appointment?

Clinic/Admin Staff or Social Worker will email Bernardo Diaz or the Patient & Family CSC

or call 415-885-3785 to get an appointment scheduled. You may also call or email.

Moment of Pawse: Meet Indy & friends!

2nd Mondays of the month

10:00am – 11:00am

(Days and times may vary depending on availability)

e



Are you feeling a little overwhelmed

and need a break?

What about taking a “Moment of Pawse”

to become pals with our volunteer pups. We have Indy, Lia, Jaycee, and a few others that would love to share a moment with you.

They would love to meet you onsite from

10:00 – 11:00am. (Sometimes longer)

They will be hanging around our PFCSC Lounge then make thier way to the floors, in the waiting areas and the infusion centers, greeting patients and staff.

The next face they want to see is yours!



PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Take a Peek

UCSF Offerings

Osher Center for Integrative Health

- Jan - Jun: Thurs & Fridays

- Nature Medicine thru Virtual Forest Therapy Walk | Individual Sessions

UCSF MERI Center

- Jan 16th: What Matters Most? | 2-hour session

- Jan 8th & Feb 22nd: Sustainable Caregiving for Care Partners of People with Cancer (Series)

- 1st & 3rd Tuesdays: Serious Illness Support Group

- Tuesdays: Loss, Losing & Loosening Poetic Medicine Group

- 2nd Wednesdays: Poetic Medicine for the “Wounded Healer” 

COMMUNITY Offerings

- Jan 24th: ACS Palliative Care Webinar | American Cancer Society

- Jan 8th & 22nd: Sharsheret Namaste Yoga) | Sharsheret

- Jan 9th: Getting What You Need from Caregivers | Sharsheret

- Jan 24th: Managing Long-Term Stress | Cancer + Careers

- Jan 10th: Dealing with Cancer Treatment Burnout (Ovarian Cancer) | SHARE CS

- Jan 17th: The Mental & Emotional Toll of Survivorship (Breast Cancer) | SHARE CS

- Jan 18th: Strategies for Coping with Brain Fog (Uterine Cancer) | SHARE CS

- Jan 24th: How to Cope with the Psychosocial Impact (Cervical Cancer) | SHARE CS

- Jan 18th: Healthy Cooking on a Budget | Cancer Support Community

- Jan 18th: Reducing Health Disparities…for Patients of Color (Breast Cancer)| Cancer Support Community

- Jan 30th: Cannabis & Cancer | Cancer Support Community

- Jan 16th: Mind-Body Skills Toolbox: Positive Affirmations | BACC

- Jan 9th: How to Talk to Kids About a Cancer /National Webinar | PICKLES

- Jan 28th-Feb 25th: Kids & Teens “Learning About Cancer” [Cohort] /National Webinar | PICKLES

________________________________________________________________



SAVE THE DATE

UCSF

- FEB 8th: The Art of Natural Gratitude | UCSF PFCSC with author, Michael Alperstein

- FEB 8th: Beauty & Wellness virtual session | Lipstick Angels & UCSF PFCSC

- FEB 15th: Cozy Corner Book Club (in-person) | UCSF PFCSC

- FEB 26th – APR 15th: MBCR Winter 2024 Session | UCSF PFCSC

COMMUNITY

- FEB 3rd: Blood Cancer Conference / Northern California | Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

- FEB 7th: Balancing Remote Work & Cancer | Cancer + Careers

PLEASE NOTE:

SUPPORT GROUP CHANGES & NEW ADDITIONS:

See Section - SUPPORTING YOU WITH OTHERS

To register for these Programs & Events, please refer to that organization

below in the body of the newsletter under their names

UCSF or Community Programs, Events & Resources

Friend to Friend @UCSF Mount Zion

UCSF Mount Zion is our 2nd location. It is filled with gifts, personal accessories, sundries and snacks to make your cancer journey or workday a little easier.

Additionally, we have an excellent selection of UCSF logo wear jackets, vests, hoodies, and

t-shirts available for purchase by staff, patients, and the public.

Located in the lobby of the hospital

UCSF Mount Zion Campus

1600 Divisadero Street, San Francisco

Open Monday - Friday, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm

Please stop by either campus – We hope to see you soon!

And don't forget to visit our website at www.friend2friend.org!

Art for Recovery Offerings:

Due to popular patient demand, many of the Art for Recovery Program workshops have currently reached maximum capacity. Those requesting to enroll in a workshop that has reached maximum capacity, will be placed on a waitlist.

(These Online Zoom Sessions are for Patients)

Expressive Healing: An Online Music & Creativity Workshop

6 -Week Workshop | Online via Zoom

Wednesdays | 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Facilitated by Ned Buskirk, Writer, AFR, and Patrice Haan, Harper

HeART and Music

Thursdays | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Facilitated by Patrice Haan, AFR Harpist & Amy Van Cleve, Program Manager

Musical Oasis: Healing Music

Tuesdays | 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Facilitated by Patrice Haan, AFR Harpist



Writing with Music Workshop for Men:

Creative Community Connection & Support

Tuesdays | 12:00 – 1:30 pm

Facilitated by Ned Buskirk, MA, Creative Writer & Jim Murdoch, Musician / AFR

Open Art Studio!!!7

Open Art Studio (NOW in Person)

Limited space. To reserve your spot, please email Amy Van Cleve

Wednesdays | 1:00 – 4:00 pm (Mount Zion Campus)

Facilitated by Amy Van Cleve, Director and Elias Medici, Administrative Assistant

Young Adults Arts Group

Online Workshop

Reserved for Ages 18-25

Tuesdays| 2:00pm – 3:00pm

Our Young Adult Arts Group is for patients ages 18-25 to build community through expressive arts. This group connects online and gathers in a safe space to share updates, projects and alleviate isolation. No skill or experience is required.

To register, please email [email protected]

What's New?!?

Join Our Weekly In-Person or Online

Expressive Art Group!

Open Art Studio NOW OPEN at UCSF Berkeley Out Patient Center

Thursdays | 1:00 – 3:30 pm

Open Art Studio is a safe space for people dealing with cancer to connect creatively in person or online. No skill is required to participate. The art studio is stocked with a variety of free materials for creative expression. Each week our team will guide participants through art projects, poetry and live music to inspire and support. We invite any living with cancer at any stage to join us in the healing process of art making in community.

Let's make art and memories together!

Facilitated by:

Amy Van Cleve, Director of Art for Recovery

   Patrice Haan, Healing Harpist

Register by emailing [email protected],

call 415-885-7225

or

These works of art later became part of a series, “Underneath.” Each piece was rendered with pastel, ink, pencil, and tape. I used my body as a subject, exploring how life is reshaped by cancer. There were tender moments – the ones behind closed doors tying and retying the knots of a hospital gown or buttoning my blouse for the first time following surgery. My drawings capture the intimate moments between self and illness, and hopefully help others to connect to their own stories and experiences.”

The gallery is on the main floor lobby of the

UCSF Bakar Adult Cancer Hospital

1855 4th Street

Mission Bay Campus

(Between the Adult Out-patient and Children’s Hospital)

Stories of Art for Recovery:

A New YouTube Series

Featuring Jenni

Jenni | Long-Term Effects of Living with the BRCA Gene

Stories of Art for Recovery

Here is the story of Jenni from Art for Recovery’s latest YouTube series,

"Stories of Art for Recovery."

Jenni was just 32 years old when she discovered she had breast cancer. 20 years later, she is still facing the long-term reality of this diagnosis. Jenni shares her means of coping and reclaiming her sexuality following her recent DIEP Flap Reconstruction. A lifelong artist with an eye for color and costume, Jenni joined Art for Recovery at UCSF and found the benefits of meeting like-minded patients in our supportive community. 

To watch Jenni's Story

Click Here

To support more videos like this, visit:

AFR Video Projects

(Registration is Required for all AFR Offerings)

Please Pre-register by emailing Art for Recovery or call 415-885-7225.

All sessions are free of charge

We thank you for your continued support.

Theme: "Loving YOU"

Just in time for Valentine's Day!

Come enhance and restore healthy skin and beauty

with Lipstick Angels & UCSF

“Come and enjoy this awesome experience and give yourself the pampering you deserve!”

Take a peek at what you may experience:

Class Video

*Patients must be under the care of a UCSF Cancer Center provider

and in the state of California at the time of the class to participate.

To find out more and pre-register: call 415-885-3693

or email us at [email protected]

This program is brought to you by the Donna Smith Fund at UCSF Health,

Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center

If you have received a cancer diagnosis, you know the emotional toll it can take on you. Research shows that if you learn how to manage your stress and anxiety, you can improve your quality of life and become an active participant in your own recovery and survivorship. 

Created by leading psycho-oncologists, the Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery program

is based on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), a therapeutic combination of mindfulness meditation, gentle yoga, and simple practices designed to let go of fears, concerns, and focus on getting well.

*Please plan to attend all nine sessions- including the Saturday session.

This program is open to all UCSF and Non- UCSF cancer patients and survivors. 

Facilitated by:

Valeria Galetto, PhD, a certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) instructor

Sponsored by

UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health

Nature Medicine

Virtual Forest Therapy Walk

* Individual/Single Sessions

Thursdays 1/4, 3/14, 4/4, 6/27 |

10:00am – 12:00pm

Fridays 1/19, 2/2, 3/1, 4/5, 5/3  |

1:00pm - 3:00pm

Call to confirm available dates

Palliative care physician and nature and forest therapy guide Dr. Stephanie Cheng will lead participants through a healing experience in the natural world. Nature and forest therapy involves the therapeutic immersion in nature and is based on the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, to nourish mind, body, and soul. Forest therapy has been shown to decrease stress, improve mood, and improve sense of well-being. 

This 2-hour gentle guided walk includes ample time for wandering and sitting and is suitable for all fitness and ability levels. There will be a series of sensory invitations offered to help participants slow down and connect with the natural world. There will also be opportunities to share experiences with others in the group. 

Participants join virtually using Zoom from the greenspace of their choice.

* Unlike other group medical visits, this is a single session and not a full series. However, participants are welcome to register for multiple walks.

With Stephanie Cheng, MD

To register, ask your UCSF provider for a referral or

call the Osher Center Clinic at 415-353-7716.

Sponsored by

UCSF MERI Center for Education in Palliative Care

Sustainable Caregiving for Care Partners of

People with Cancer (Series)

Wednesdays, January 10th - February 28th

9:00 am - 10:30 am

Sustainable Caregiving for Care Partners of People with Cancer is a live-online program of an 8-week 90-minute class series. In each class, you will learn evidence-based skills to help make your caregiving sustainable.

Teaching methods include brief lecture periods mixed with experiential exercises. You will also have opportunities to speak with others in structured break-out groups (pairs or triads) as well as in the larger group. Each week you will receive a summary of the session and related resources.

Each class will have its own theme and the opportunity to practice new skills in a safe place, so that they’re more available during the days ahead. Themes include:

• Attentional balance and grounding
• Repertoire of stress responses and meeting difficult emotions
• Positive intention setting
• Mindful self-compassion
• Challenging relationships and patients’ concerns around “being a burden”
• Re-framing chronic sorrow
• Balance and growth in adversity
• ‘What works for me?’ -- wellness practice -journals to cultivate a positive mindset

For this free offering, space is limited.

If interested, please:

Register Here

? Information: 415-509-8645 or email Gayle Kojimoto

Sessions will be lead by:

Judy Long, Chaplain,

Educator of Symptom Management & MERI Center

A live-online 4-session workshop for anyone who wishes to foster confidence and resiliency in these difficult times, as we care for our patients, friends, families, ourselves and those in our community at the end of life. As an online Zoom course, we will attempt to create as positive, connected and experiential an environment as possible!

This workshop will: 

• Prepare us to show up at the bedsides of the seriously ill and/or dying—using the tenets of Palliative Care: to help relieve suffering physically, emotionally, spiritually, psychologically
• ffer guidance in supporting each other as caregivers-- both professional and “family” caregivers
• ssist us in creating personal toolkits for caregiving at the end of life
• Help us understand how our own myths and beliefs about life and death affect our roles as care-givers and care-receivers
• ffer practical knowledge about the dying process
• Pain and symptom management (an overview)
• Hospice and Palliative care issues
• Provide a step towards facing our own mortality, which is key to serving others

Course Objectives:

• Participants will be able to Describe the dimensions of compassionate care for the dying from bio-psycho-social-spiritual perspectives
• Participants will articulate a self-care plan for resiliency and prevention of burnout in the field of palliative and end of life care
• Participants will be able to discuss the importance of self-reflection and self-assessment in providing support to patients and families while creating appropriate plans of care 
• Participants will be able to Describe 3 strategies for facilitating conversations about end of life issues
• Participants will be able to define 3 differences between Palliative Care and Hospice care
• Participants will identify 3 situations in regard to people with serious illness, in which medical pain and symptom management referral would be necessary
• Participants will be able to discuss how implicit biases and lack of education regarding racial/ethnic disparities affect treatment of people at the end of life



Led by Redwing Keyssar, RN, Author & Poet

Please Register Here

For more information: Call 415-509-8645 or email Gayle Kojimoto

Are You Living with

Serious Illness?

Serious Illness Support Group

1st & 3rd Tuesdays | 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

This group is for those with serious illness to meet and to connect with others.

Our goal is to provide a safe place for you to explore:

• To freely say out loud and share what you are experiencing, thinking and feeling

• To listen and learn from each other: what helps, what hurts and what heals?

• To express your concerns about the impact your illness has on others and yourself

• To talk about sharing information and having conversations with your loved ones

Sessions are open to people with serious illness. Meetings held virtually via Zoom.

Link sent upon registration. Registration closes the day before the group.

Facilitated by Lacy Fetting, LCSW | Redwing Keyssar, RN | Judy Long, Chaplain

Open to all (UCSF/non-UCSF community)

To Register please Click Here

For more information: Call 415-509-8645 or email Gayle Kojimoto

What Matters Most?

Advance Care Planning Workshop

Next Session

Tuesday

January 16th | 1:00 - 3:00 pm

This is a free two-part workshop offered throughout the year in advance care planning for patients, staff, and caregivers that enable you to: 

• Create a personalized plan to honor your wishes

• Have your questions answered

• Complete your new or revised Advance Directive for Healthcare and have it notarized for free (in-person workshops only)

Session 1: 

Learn about the Advance Directive Form, what questions to ask yourself and your family, things to consider about your wishes, and how to complete the form.

Session 2: (In person)

Bring your completed form to the workshop, ask any additional questions you or your family may have, and have your form notarized on-site at no cost to you.



Please plan on attending both meetings. This workshop is for people with a cancer diagnosis (including Non-UCSF patients) and their loved ones.

Led by Redwing Keyssar, RN, Author & Poet

To Register, please Click Here

For more information: Call 415-509-8645 or email Gayle Kojimoto

Free Notary Service is available by appointment:

Please call: 415-885-3693 or email Patient & Family CSC

Loss, Losing, Loosening

Poetic Medicine Group

Tuesdays | 11:00 am

In these challenging times, it is important more than ever to express our feelings and connect to our own creativity and community. Join us in using poetry writing as self-care and to explore our feelings, fears, and hopes. This is an open group that will meet weekly. Come once, come every week; there is no commitment to join every week.

Each week we will:

• Use poem-making to explore your grief, whether you are grieving the loss of a loved one or struggling due to this global pandemic
• Find healing through listening to poems read out loud and exploring how it makes us feel
• Create a supportive & caring community



You do not need to be a writer or poet to join.

All are welcome..(UCSF/Non-UCSF Community) Come when you can.

Led by Redwing Keyssar, RN, Author & Poet.

To Register, please Click Here

For more information: Call 415-509-8645 or email Gayle Kojimoto

1st & 3rd Wednesdays | 10:30 am

Poetic Medicine for the "Wounded Healer"

Many of us, whether we identify as being in the “healing arts” or not, have wounds that we understand as the foundation of our own ability to heal and to have compassion for others. In these sessions we will open to whatever it is we consider our own “wounded places” and allow our poem-making to be part of our healing process. 

The psychologist Carl Jung coined the concept of "The Wounded Healer." He took the insights of this Archetypal healing from Greek Mythology. Chiron, the wisest Centaur, was once inflicted with a severe physical wound. In his way to recovery, he found the goal of being a “Teacher of healing.” Many wise people have said, healing is not a process between the healer and the wounded. It’s a process of two equals. The teacher does heal the wounds, but the one who orchestrates it is the healer’s own experience of healing.

Redwing Keyssar, RN, Author & Poet, of the UCSF MERI CENTER for Education in Palliative Care will guide us in using poem-making to explore the concept of what it means to be a “wounded healer” and to find healing in our creative process together. 

We will:

• Use poem-making to explore ideas about health and healing
• Create a supportive & caring community

“Everyone alive has suffered. It is the wisdom gained from our wounds and from our own experiences of suffering that makes us able to heal.”

~ Rachel Naomi Remen

“The wounds are the places where light enters.” ~Rumi

Led by Redwing Keyssar, RN, Author & Poet

Open to all (UCSF/non-UCSF community)

To Register, please Click Here (then select a date).

For more information: Call 415-509-8645 or email Gayle Kojimoto

Food for Thought: Poetry Café

Thursdays | 10:00 am

In these challenging times, it is more important than ever to express our feelings and connect to our own creativity and community.  Join us in using poetry writing as self-care & to explore our feelings, fears & hopes. 

We will: 

• Create a safe environment for each other-with a short-guided meditation and music 
• Listen to some poems read out loud and see how they make us feel 
• Use some specific words or “prompts” to encourage our own “poem-making” 
• Share our poetic explorations 

Making poems can:

• Surprise us 
• Allow expression of feelings in creative ways 
• Guide our own healing journey 



“Poetry is simply speaking the truth.

Each of us has a truth as unique as our own fingerprints”

~Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen, from Intro to Poetic Medicine by John Fox

Open to all (UCSF and

Non-UCSF community)

To Register, please

Click Here

For more information:

Call 415-509-8645 or

email Gayle Kojimoto

Led by Redwing Keyssar, RN, Author & Poet

Learn More:

If you would like to receive our monthly newsletter or learn about upcoming events:

UCSF MERI Center mailing list. To see all our Eventbrite Offerings

Help keep the MERI Center workshops free by donating

Sponsored by UCSF Osher Center for

Integrative Health

Laughter Yoga...Laughter is the Best Medicine

Join us

Thursdays | 6:00 pm

Via Zoom

Laughter is like a mini-vacation away from

all your stresses and worries.

Join a fun group of laughter lovers.

Laughter has been shown to:

• Boost your immune system with feel good hormones
• Release tension and stress
• Help manage pain
• Improve your mood and help you feel lighter  
• Increase creativity, productivity and problem-solving skills

To learn more: Go to Osher Center Public Classes/Laughter Yoga

and to join Click here.  

Looking forward to laughing with you! 

Instutrctor: Teresa Corrigan RN, MA, CLYT 

Leader: Kazuyo Shimokawabe

Laughter Yoga Teacher UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine 

For additional questions or concerns contact:  Class Administrator

To register: Click Here Select: Laughter Yoga

Restorative Yoga for Patients Living with Cancer

You will receive the Zoom meeting information and a pass code unique to you. Hope you can join us while in the comfort of your own home.

Instructor: Marcia Degelman, CM

Please register to join the class.

 Click Here 

Sponsored by MarinHealth Medical Center

MarinHealth QiGong

for Cancer Survivors and Chronic Illness

Introducing Yuan Gong an updated, gentle and effective practice of QiGong, a traditional Chinese healing system (the origin of T’ai Chi). This class focuses on improving health and well-being. Appropriate for people experiencing cancer and chronic conditions. The class accommodates people with movement restrictions or even chair-based practitioners. 

Please  Reserve in advance

Sponsored by UCSF Spiritual Care Services



Survivorship Wellness

Next Orientation: Monday | 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm (2nd Mondays)

8-week program: Mondays | 1:30 - 3:00 pm (rolling)

Online, via Zoom

If you are a UCSF patient who has finished active cancer treatment, please join us for an orientation to our Survivorship Wellness program. This 8-week interdisciplinary program will help you focus on optimizing health and wellness after cancer treatment. Learn how to set personal goals and practice skills in: nutrition, exercise, stress management, sleep, goal-setting, sexual wellness, emotional wellness, and spiritual wellness.

Open to UCSF patients who are no longer in active treatment for cancer. Most insurance plans are accepted.

Integrative Cancer Care Group Visits

with Dr. Donald Abrams 

On Break for the month of December

3 Part Group Visit Series

Leading cancer and integrative medicine specialist Dr. Donald Abrams, former chief of Hematology and Oncology at San Francisco General Hospital and leader at UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Mount Zion, is sought after by cancer patients around the world. This 3-visit series covers cancer nutrition, plant therapies and non-traditional medicine.

Required: Must be a UCSF Cancer Patient

Interested?

UCSF Patients receiving treatment for cancer and/or patients with metastatic cancer can be referred by their oncologist or nurse to Dr. Abrams' Osher Group Medical Visits

(Referral Order #374). Most insurance is accepted.

Questions? E-mail OCIM

UCSF Support Groups and Group Gatherings are open to

UCSF and Non-UCSF Patients

MUST BE A CALIFORNIA RESIDENCE TO PARTICIPATE

- Click yellow bar to view all -

COZY CORNER BOOK CLUB

Thursdays | This is a bi-weekly 3-month series

Starting on February 15th (Feb – Apr) | 2:30pm 3:30pm PT

In-person: UCSF Patient & Family Cancer Support Center

Mission Bay Campus | 1825 4th Street, Room #M1210

Are you looking for a community of kindred spirits to share

the joy of reading, your inspiration and insight of stories with?

Come join us every other week in the Cozy Corner of the

UCSF Patient and Family Cancer Support Center.

We will be reviewing the following books:

• February: Land of Milk and Honey – C Pam Zhang
• March: A Man Called Ove – Fredrik Backman
• April: Our Missing Hearts – Celeste Ng

For registration and details, email: [email protected]

Or call: 415-885-3693 or visit: 1825 4th Str., #M1210

~ PLEASE NOTE ~

Support Group Changes

Please see change of time:

Colo-Rectal Cancer Support Group

Open to patients and their partners.

2nd and 4th Mondays 5:00-6:30 pm

Telehealth format. Call for information and availability

Contact: Vittorio Comelli, PsyD, or 415-203-9619

Prostate Cancer Support for Gay Men

Open to gay men and their partners.

1st & 3rd Mondays, 5:00-6:30 pm

Telehealth Format. Call for information and availability

Contact: Vittorio Comelli, PsyD, or 415-203-9619

Young Adult Brain Tumor

Last Thursdays, 6:30-7:30 pm

Telehealth Format. RSVP necessary to attend.

Contact: Dace and Phoebe | See how to register below

Please see change of day, time, and facilitator:

Anal Cancer Support for Women

*4th Tuesdays, 2:15-3:30 pm

Telehealth Format. RSVP necessary to attend.

Contact: Darlene Chow, LCSW or 415-502-1887 

Family and Friends

2nd Wednesdays, 12:00-1:30 pm

Telehealth Format. RSVP necessary to attend.

Contact: Darlene Chow, LCSW or 415-502-1887 

New Additions

Cáncer de Sangre - Grupo de Apoyo en Español para pacientes de UCSF

Nuestro grupo de apoyo brinda un espacio seguro para conectarse con otras personas que se enfrentan al cáncer.

Cada cuarto jueves del mes de 2:30pm a 3:30pm

Llamanos al 415-502-4636 o envíenos un email al [email protected] para registrarse.

Serious Illness Support Group

Conversations about living and dying

1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM PST

This group is for those with serious illness to meet and to connect with others. All cancer types are welcomed.

Call the MERI Center at 415-509-8645 or email us at [email protected]

2nd & 4th Tuesdays

5:30 – 7:00 pm

For Zoom and more information,

please call the Facilitators at:

415-514-6338

Ted Scheel, LCSW, MPH

Lacy Fetting, LCSW

Husbands & Significant Others

Support Group

This group is for men whose wives or partners

are dealing with cancer.

The group offers a safe place (a confidential zoom setting) to share feelings and feel supported by other men with similar experiences.

You will discuss positive ways of dealing with your partner's cancer. Also, you will find mutual emotional support and encouragement.

Family and Friends Support Group

2nd Wednesdays | 12:00 – 1:30 pm

PLEASE NOTE NEW TIME & FACILITATOR

This is a support group for all who offer emotional and practical support to a loved one with cancer.

The group offers a safe place (a confidential zoom setting) to share outlooks and feel supported by others dealing with similar experiences. You will learn tools to cope with the emotional and physical aspects of caring for a loved one, find ways of nurturing yourself, and renew hope. The group is open to UCSF and Non-UCSF caregivers.

Please call the facilitator, Darlene Chow, LCSW, for zoom information: 415-502-1887.

Brain Tumor Support Group 

1st Wednesdays | 6:30 – 8:00pm

A group for patients, family members and caregivers to share their experiences and concerns, and to learn from each other.



Contact: Mary Lovely, PhD, RN, CNR

Call: 415-990-4461

Brain Tumor

Caregivers Support Group 

2nd Wednesdays | 6:30 – 8:00pm

An emotional support group that is facilitated by our neuro-oncology social worker. Open to caregivers of UCSF neuro-oncology patients only.

Registration is required. Visit our Neuro-Oncology Caregiver Program to learn more about our support services for caregivers.

Contact: Candice Velasco

Call: 415-514-5674

Young Adult Brain Tumor

Support Group

Last Thursdays | 6:30pm – 7:30pmm

Are you aged 18-early 40s, living with a brain tumor? Would you like to gather monthly to meet with your peers? You are invited to join the monthly online peer-led UCSF Young Adult Brain Tumor Support Group.

This is a safe and welcoming place for you to authentically express yourself, build resilience, and empower you to live your best life with the support of your peers. This group offers advocacy, community, and hope, and is facilitated by your peers who know what it’s like to live with a brain cancer diagnosis as a young adult. 

Facilitators: Dace & Phoebe

This group is open to non-UCSF patients as well.

Please Pre-register: Register Here

Sponsored by the UCSF Sheri Sobrato Brisson

Brain Cancer Survivorship Program

Bladder Support Group

New Time: 1st Thursday | 12:30-2:00pm

Have a safe place to share feelings while being supported by others dealing with similar experiences. Learn from UCSF providers working with Bladder Cancer patients and hear some of the latest developments.

For more information or to RSVP

Email: PFCSC or call: 415-514-1707

Head & Neck Cancer Education &

Support Groups

3rd Thursdays | 5:30 – 6:30 pm



This group offers a safe place (a confidential zoom setting) to share outlooks and feel supported by others dealing with similar experiences. You will learn tools to cope with the emotional and physical aspects of Head and Neck cancer. The group is open to UCSF and Non-UCSF patients and caregivers.

(Alternate months will have a speaker and topic)

Facilitators: Dennis Ho, LCSW & Cara Evans, MS, CCC-SLP

For more information or to RSVP

Email: Dennis Ho or call: 415-514-6338

Anal Cancer Support for Women

*4th Tuesdays | 2:15 – 3:30 pm (NEW day and time)

This group offers a safe place (via zoom) just for women to share experiences and feelings around the effects of anal cancer as they are supported by others.

Facilitator: Darlene Chow, LCSW

For more information or to RSVP

Email: [email protected] or call: 415-502-1887



Our dietitian Greta Macaire, MA, RD, CSO, has selected the following recipe to feature this month. Also, be sure to check out our online video library of our nutrition workshops. 

Easy Hot and Sour Soup

with Vegetables and Tofu

Directions:

1.    Thinly slice the cabbage, mushrooms, and the green onions (both the green and white ends of the onions). Peel the carrots, then either slice them thinly, use a vegetable peeler to slice them into ribbons, or cut them into thin sticks.

2.    Add the avocado oil, grated ginger, and the sliced white ends of the green onion to a large pot. Sauté the ginger and onion over medium heat until soft (1-2 minutes). Add the vegetable broth to the pot, along with the soy sauce, vinegar, and chili garlic sauce. The amount of soy sauce, vinegar, and chili garlic sauce needed may be subjective and will depend on how much salt your vegetable broth contains. Start with a smaller amount of each, then add more to your taste. The final broth should be tangy and spicy. Heat the broth until piping hot.

3.    Drain the tofu, then cut it into small cubes (small enough to fit on a spoon). Add the tofu to the hot broth and allow it to heat through (a few minutes).

4.    Either add the sliced vegetables to the soup pot and cook until softened, or divide the vegetables into individual bowls for serving, then spoon the hot broth over top. Sprinkle the sliced green portion of the green onions over each bow. More chili garlic sauce can also be added to each bowl if desired.

Notes:

Makes 6 servings. Recipe adapted from BudgetBytes

Are you a UCSF cancer patient and have some nutrition concerns?

Note: One-on-one Nutrition Counseling is available with one of our four oncology dietitians at no cost to UCSF cancer patients. These appointments are available via zoom (video visit) or telephone, by scheduling through your oncologist office/team.

Exercise Counseling:

Are you a UCSF cancer patient looking to regain strength or range of motion?

All UCSF cancer patients are eligible for free one-on-one exercise counseling.

Please refer to your oncology department to make an appointment.

For more information, please call 415-502-5547

(Currently available via Zoom)

Don’t miss the opportunity to add a simple and effective exercise! 

Little to no equipment needed! Can be done anywhere with BIG value! 

30 Second Sit to Stand Test

This is a great way to start the New Year off with some measurable fitness goals! It is a functional test to help you measure your strength endurance in your legs, and it allows you to compare where you are to people of about the same age range so you can set concrete goals. Even if you score low on this test, that is OKAY! It is a fun way to set a goal for the New Year to work on your leg strength. We are using this test in Core and More as an endurance exercise.

Set up Instructions:

• Begin sitting in a chair, with something nearby to help with balance (another chair or countertop).
• Have a timer on your watch or phone so you can set it for 30 seconds

Image from HEP2go.com

Have fun, stay safe, and healthy!

-Jordan LaBrec, PT, DPT, MS, CSCS

Core and More Instructor

The Oley Foundation is here for you. Please note: As we work through this national crisis together, Oley staff and volunteers remain committed to handling donations and requests for supplies. You may experience a delay in response as we all try to navigate these changing times. As always, we are here to answer any questions. 

Shipping Options

Below are links to recommend shipping organizations.

American Cancer Society’s Palliative Care

Webinar   

Wednesday, January 24th | 11:30 am PT

The purpose of this webinar is to focus on the benefits of Palliative Care for patients with cancer. We will cover the overview of palliative care landscape and resources.

Target Audience: Nurses, providers, case managers, social workers, and others. 

(Note: Although this is geared to medical professionals, it may still apply to patients/caregivers.)

Speakers:

Robert L. Fine, MD, MACP, FAAHPM, HEC-C,

Director, Office of Clinical Ethics and Palliative Care

Kristen Rombach, RN, BSN, OCN, American Cancer Society 

American Cancer Society Road To Recovery Program

The program gives cancer patients free transportation for cancer-related medical appointments. Our trained volunteer drivers will pick you up, take you to your appointment, and drop you back at home when you’re finished, at no cost to you.

Lifesaving cancer care should not be prevented or delayed because of location or transportation. Connect with us to learn more about Road To Recovery availability in your area and other resources to help you on your cancer journey.

Call the ACS at 800-227-2345 for more information.

American Cancer Society Lodging Program is Back

Getting the best care sometimes means cancer patients must travel away from home. This can place an emotional and financial burden on patients and caregivers during an already challenging time. Extended Stay America, the leading mid-priced extended stay hotel brand in the U.S., has committed to making this difficult situation easier for cancer patients and their families. To reduce disparities in cancer outcomes and help patients affordably receive the treatment needed, Extended Stay America has renewed its partnership with the American Cancer Society to offer some reduced rate nights at over 760 Extended Stay America locations nationwide.

Patients who live more than 40 miles from the treatment location and have a demonstrated need for lodging assistance in order to receive cancer treatment will be eligible for the program.

You may call: 800-227-2345 or email [email protected] 

More Resources to Explore:

• ACS CARES™ (Community Access to Resources, Education, and Support)
• Reach To Recovery (One-on-One Support)
• Cancer Survivors Network (Support for patients, survivors, caregivers, families, and friends)
• “TLC” Tender Loving Care (Discover essential products)

ACS Video Support

Caregiver Support Series

Caregivers are a crucial part of any cancer care team. The goal of this video series is to provide educational support to caregivers as they assist with the everyday needs of cancer patients and provide.

Serie de apoyo para cuidadores

Los cuidadores son una parte crucial de cualquier equipo de profesionales médicos contra el cáncer. Esta serie de videos tiene la intención de conformar un recurso educativo de apoyo para las personas encargadas del cuidado de una persona con cáncer en relación con sus necesidades cotidianas y ofrecer información sobre técnicas de cuidado para mejorar su calidad de vida.

Sharsheret Namaste Yoga

Monday, January 8th & 22nd | 12:00pm PST

Health and wellness is important for everyone, especially for those recovering from illness. Join Sharsheret to relax and rejuvenate through movement with our new yoga series, led by yoga teacher and coach, Emily Elizabeth Steinberg.

This series is catered to those affected by cancer and will help bring awareness to the body. The following items are not mandatory, but suggested and can help with your yoga practice: yoga mat/towel, two-four yoga blocks, a blanket and a pillow.

Register here

For more information, please contact Stephanie Siegel.

When Chicken Soup is Not Enough:

Getting What You Need from Caregivers

Tuesday, January 9th | 12:00pm PST

It’s often assumed that people know how to be there for each other. But instincts often fail when people are worried about doing or saying the wrong thing. It’s also very hard to ask for help. We’ll discuss these common pitfalls and some concrete ways to strengthen your support system to set them and you up for success. Aimee Sax, MSW is the California Support Program Manager and a social worker at Sharsheret where she provides free, confidential, and personalized support to women and families facing breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and the genetic predispositions towards them. She got her MSW at UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. She loves to connect with others whether they’re discussing cancer, advocacy, parenting, or shows on Bravo.

Register here

Balancing Work & Cancer Webinar:

Managing Long-Term Stress

Wednesday, January 24th | 10:00 AM PT

For most people, workplace stress is a given. Add cancer to the mix, and it can become debilitating. In this webinar we will help you think about your priorities and how you can balance your job, family and own well-being to avoid letting stress get the best of you.

Discussion will include how to:

• Preserve what is most important to you during and after your treatment
• dentify tools to help you maintain your best performance at work
• Stay in control of your work and your life
• Set reasonable boundaries at work and express them professionally

Facilitator:

Julie Larson, LCSW

Register Here 

Upcoming

Balancing Work & Cancer Webinar:

Balancing Remote Work & Cancer

Wednesday, February 7th | 10:00 AM PT

The fact that more and more companies are revising their policies on remote work, allowing employees to work from someplace other than a traditional communal office, is welcome news for many people — especially, for some cancer patients and survivors who experience challenges from treatment that make it difficult to endure a long commute, be in a crowded and potentially germ-filled workspace or stay focused in a distracting environment.

Join this webinar for a robust discussion exploring:

• The challenges associated with working remotely either full or part-time
• How to approach your employer to request the opportunity to work remotely
• Techniques to ensure effective communication with your employer and coworkers, when working from home

Facilitator:

Sissy Silva, Senior Manager of Programs and Spanish Resources, Cancer and Careers

Register Here

Let's Talk About It:

Ovarian Cancer (Dealing with Cancer Treatment Burnout)

Wednesday, January 10th

10:00am PST / 1:00pm ET

Individuals with ovarian cancer can join Julie Larson, LCSW and peers via video or phone to talk about topics such as "Dealing with Cancer Treatment Burnout".

The ongoing nature of cancer treatment, follow-up care, blood work, and side effect management can feel overwhelming over time. Join us on Wednesday, January 10th for this discussion as we talk honestly about feelings of cancer treatment burnout, explore strategies for caring for ourselves over the long term, and work together to name what is helpful as we walk one day at a time.

Presenter:

Julie Larson, LCSW

Register Here

Let's Talk About It:

Breast Cancer (Caring for You: The Mental & Emotional Toll of Survivorship)

Wednesday, January 17th

10:00am PST / 1:00pm ET

Individuals with breast cancer can join Julie Larson, LCSW and peers via video or phone to talk about topics such as "Caring for You: The Mental & Emotional Toll of Survivorship".

A cancer diagnosis is stressful. From gathering information about treatment options to navigating relationships with loved ones, it is normal to feel overwhelmed and emotional. This session will provide concrete tools for sharpening self-awareness to better understand needs and gain strategies for coping with intense emotions like worry and fear.

Presenter:

Julie Larson, LCSW

Register Here

Let's Talk About It:

Uterine Cancer (Strategies for Coping with Brain Fog)

Thursday, January 18th

9:00am PST / 12:00pm ET

Individuals with uterine cancer can join via video or phone to talk about topics such as, "Strategies for Coping with Brain Fog".

Brain fog, or chemo brain, are both common terms used by cancer survivors to describe thinking and memory problems that can occur during and after cancer treatment. This condition can result in challenges with remembering details, multitasking or staying focused through longer tasks. A cancer diagnosis itself can be quite stressful and might lead to anxiety and depression, which can also contribute to memory problems. Come and let’s talk together about how brain fog is impacting you and learn strategies for beating it in your day-to-day life.

Presenter:

Leah Hamel, LCSW

Register Here

Ask the Expert: (Partnership with CancerCare)

How to Cope with the Psychosocial Impact of

Cervical Cancer

Wednesday, January 24th

9:00am PST / 12:00pm ET

A cervical cancer diagnosis can bring up a lot of emotions, thoughts, and fears. That’s completely normal. But how can you cope? Whether you’re experiencing scanxiety, fear of recurrence, grief, relationship changes, or other common issues individuals with cancer face, specific strategies can help. Bring your questions to this Instagram Live and get tips and tools from Cassie Spector, LMSW, an Oncology Social Worker and Breast and Gynecological Cancers Program Coordinator at CancerCare.

Presenter:

Cassie Spector, LMSW at CancerCare

Register Here

More about Programs & Support Groups



See Here

Eating for Healing

Saturday, January 6th

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Join us and learn nutritious recipes with ingredients known for both their healing and disease prevention benefits. Plant based meals are easy to create and help to support the immune system.

With: Susie White, Holistic Nutrition Consultant

Zoom Link will be sent to your email once you've registered.

*This is a virtual only event*

 Register Here

Reducing Health Care Disparities

in Breast Cancer Treatments for Patients of Color

Thursday, January 18th

5:00 – 7:00 PM

Dr. Thompson will address reducing healthcare disparities in breast cancer and take a deep dive into breast cancer among young black women. She will also address how the high rate of breast cancer is affecting the African American community in the Bay Area as a whole. She is a breast surgical oncologist and clinical assistant professor at Stanford University.

With: Dr. Candice Thompson

Zoom Link will be sent to your email once you've registered.

*This is a virtual only event*

 Register Here

Cannabis & Cancer

Tuesday, January 30th

6:00 – 8:00 PM

Learn how cannabis can assist in managing and relieving side effects from cancer treatment. Eloise is a nurse practitioner with extensive experience in oncology and the use of cannabis for cancer patients.

With: Eloise Theisen, RN, MSN, NP

Zoom Link will be sent to your email once you've registered.

*This is a virtual only event*

Register Here

Please visit the calendar for more

events & programs

Yoga for Healing and Recovery (In-Person)

2nd & 4th Thursdays | 10:30am - 12:00pm | BACC Office

Location: 1511 S. Claremont Street | San Mateo, CA 94402

Light Athletic Stretch and Release (LASR) yoga using a mat or chair, blocks, and straps. Moderate yoga flow for all levels. (This will be a drop-in class)

Facilitated by Jido Lee Furgeson

For more information or to sign up please contact:

Ámbar Sandoval [email protected] or call our Helpline at 650-326-6686

Healthy (Exercise) Steps (Virtural)

Every Wednesday | 4:45 to 5:45pm

Healthy Steps is an exercise program designed to open up the lymphatic system, improve range of motion, reduce scar restriction, and more

Facilitated by Susie Danzig, B.F.A.

For more information or to sign up please contact:

Ámbar Sandoval [email protected] or call our Helpline at 650-326-6686

Mind-Body Skills Toolbox: Positive Affirmations

Tuesday, January 16th | 5:30pm - 7:00pm

(This will be a drop-in class)

Trauma research shows that positive self-talk in the form of affirmations supports the development of resilience. Join us as we learn about resilience; learn how positive psychology can shift mental habits, and how choosing positivity is different from hiding in denial. Together we will experience hypnosis combined with positive affirmations to shift the negative mental cycle of the stress response and promote resilience and empowerment.

Facilitated by Cynthia McDonald, Ph.D.

For more information or to sign up please contact:

Ámbar Sandoval [email protected] or call our Helpline at 650-326-6686

Northern California 2024

Saturday, February 3rd, 2024 | 8:30am – 2:30pm PT

(In-person Conference)

The Northern California Region of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is proud to present this free in-person education event to blood cancer patients, survivors, family members, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.

*Experts in the areas of blood cancer research, treatment, and survivorship will present information on each topic. Our goal is to educate conference participants about treatment options, emerging therapies, management of survivorship issues, and LLS resources.

More information to come.

*This is NOT a continuing education (CE) program.

Register Here

National Webinar

How to Talk to Kids About a Cancer

Tuesday, January 9th | 4:00PM – 5:00PM PT / 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM CT

Telling kids about a parent or guardian’s cancer diagnosis can be hard. At the same time, research shows that open, age-appropriate conversations with kids about their parent’s illness helps to decrease their worry, stress, and anxiety. These open conversations also promote their social-emotional wellbeing. Our Chief Clinical Program Officer, Kelsey Mora, LCPC, CCLS is an expert in supporting families through illness. Register for this webinar to receive a free digital copy of our Pickles Family Support Kit, and to learn how talk to kids about cancer.

This free educational webinar is well suited for parents, caregivers, friends, family, school professionals; anyone who wants to take away practical, evidence-based ways to talk to kids about cancer.

Register Here 

National Virtual Kids and Teens

“Learning About Cancer” Program [Winter 2024 Cohort]

Sundays, Jan 28th - Feb 25th | 1:00PM – 2:30PM PT / 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM CT

(5-week session)

This is a place where kids and teens in the program build relationships with friends who get them in a safe, supportive, fun environment online. They also learn about cancer in a developmentally appropriate way, an experience that’s proven to decrease stress, anxiety, and worry for kids whose parents or guardians have cancer. These engaging virtual group meetings are interactive, play, and art-based.

Meetings are facilitated by our skilled Youth Facilitators who have backgrounds in child development, education, Child Life, social work, and other youth-focused areas.

What Parents Should Know:

-We serve kids and teens in grades 1-12, ages 6-18

-Parents receive weekly prompts to help facilitate connection and conversation at home.

-If you are a new Pickles family, please complete our Youth Registration Form no later than Friday, January 12th

The program themes are:

💚 Week 1 - Getting started and getting to know each other.

💚 Week 2 - Shared experiences. What do we have in common? What brings us together?

💚 Week 3 - Learn together. What is cancer? What is treatment? What is my parent going through, and how can I better communicate with them about it?

💚 Week 4 - How it feels and what can we do about it? Kids start to express their emotions and learn valuable coping skills they can use in life beyond their parent’s cancer, too.

💚 Week 5 - Hope, gratitude, and see you soon! Kids leave the program with positivity and friendships that will help them throughout their parent's experience.

Facilitated by:

Kelsey Mora, LCPC, CCLS, is an expert in supporting families through illness and designed this unique program based on more than a decade supporting kids.

Register Here 



Support for Children & Teens

Who has a Parent with Cancer

Today our children and teens communicate differently.

Find what works best for your family.

Facebook | My Parent Has Cancer and It Really Sucks

First, know that there are an estimated 1 million other US teenagers with a parent who has cancer. Teens supporting teens can make a difference

American Cancer Society | “Helping Children When a Family Member Has Cancer”

Cancer Support Community | Talking to Kids & Teens

“Talking to Kids and Teens About Cancer”

“Worry about Family Children and Friends”

National Cancer Institute | “When Your Parent Has Cancer: A Guide for Teens”

MD Anderson Center | “When a parent has cancer: Helping teens and kids cope”

Camp Kesem | "Transformation Support of an Empowering Community"

We believe all children facing a parent's cancer deserve the chance to fully experience the joys of childhood and be their best selves. 

Click & Sign up here:

I'm Still Okay

Local Financial Assistance for Napa County and

Bay Area Peninsula Residents

Those who qualify will receive $500 to cover the cost of non-medical expenses for the patient and caregiver including transportation, housing, utilities and more. Applicants must have a blood cancer diagnosis confirmed by a doctor.

For more information:  Apply Here

Pink Ribbon Girls provide FREE direct services to women with

breast cancer and gynecological cancers throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.   

 (Any stage, any age, no restrictions on income,

however some geographic restrictions may apply)

SERVICES

(Services are also available for men diagnosed with breast cancer)

• Healthy Meals - Meals which target the nutrients a cancer patient needs, prepared by executive chefs and professionally delivered to your home
• Housecleaning Kits - Provided with all-natural, plant- and mineral-based cleaning supplies along with a lightweight vacuum
• Rides to Treatment - Provided by Uber Health
• Peer Support - Offering you the support you need in the community you are in

OUR TWO PROGRAMS:

• Simply Fight Program: For a diagnosis of Stage 1-3, the above services are offered for (2) Months.
• No Age No Stage Program: For Stage 4 or Metastatic Cancer Patients and these services are provided for a longer period.

Geographical Limitations May Apply for All Services

We service the Bay area and within a 40-mile radius

For support for yourself or loved one, Click Here

If you would like to donate to this organization, Click Here

You may contact us directly at: 877-269-5367

Women’s Cancer Resource Center “WCRC” to provide direct services

to women with cancer, and to advocate for changes in the health care system.

Free Therapy Sessions with Women's Cancer Resource Center's

Licensed Therapists:

Cancer diagnosis and treatment can be challenging. While the journey can be a long road, we offer compassionate assistance along the way. We match eligible clients with one of our professionally licensed therapists for 12 sessions.



In response to public health and safety issues related to COVID-19, this program is being conducted via telehealth platform (video chat or phone). We understand that mental wellness is an important part of one's overall health. Brief term work can help clients prioritize personal goals, support emotional release of stress, and successfully identify techniques for coping and opportunities for emotional healing. Our Program is available for women and non-binary individuals, who make less than $30,000 per year and uninsured clients and couples.

To see if our Free Therapy Program is a proper fit for your counseling needs, or if you have general questions about the program, please call 510-809-0216 and leave a message. 

WCRC Support Groups - See Website for Schedules

• Latinas con cancer (En Espanol)
• Holistic, Integrative and Alternative Medicine Support Group
• Women with Metastatic Cancer (Daytime)
• Women with Metastatic Cancer (Evening)
• Adults with Blood-related Cancer and Their Friends, Families and Caregivers
• Sister to Sister African American Women with Cancer (Berkeley)
• Sister to Sister African American Women with Cancer (Richmond)
• Women with Cancer
• Bay Area Young Survivors

For more information or to register, please call Veronica 510-809-0209 or email [email protected]

_____________________

WCRC also provides a range of services

to support women (and their families) throughout their cancer journey.

Website: www.wcrc.org or Email: [email protected]

Daily Weekday

Nature Meditations

An Online Practice Group, via Zoom

Mondays - Fridays | 7:30 - 8:15 am

Every weekday morning, mindfulness teachers/instructors will lead a nature-oriented, guided meditation session for anyone. Sessions include a short talk, followed by a 30-minute guided meditation.

Morning meditation can help one wake up and begin the day feeling more centered, focused, and uplifted, and the natural world can inspire our practice. Attendees are welcome to participate from any peaceful environment, ideally in nature or with a view of nature.

Instructors:

Mark Coleman, Rachelle Calvert, Diethild Simon, Nina Horne Odin Zackman

Sponsored by Awake in the Wild

(Free / Donations welcome)

To learn more about the instructors and to register:

LivingWell Cancer Resource Center

Part of Northwestern Medicine

Watch this quick demonstration of neurographic art with LivingWell Art Instructor Cheri Hunt. This freeform, intuitive drawing practice helps release stress, fear, and anxiety. To do this relaxation practice, all you need is a piece of paper and a pen or pencil and a few spare moments. Zero art experience required!

For more information

• Visit LivingWell Cancer Resource Center, part of Northwestern Medicine

http://livingwellcrc.org

• Follow LivingWell on Facebook: http://Facebook.com/livingwellcrc

YouTube Video Lesson:

https://youtu.be/HmhGJnYsCss

Sharing and Silence

Compassion and Curiosity

Join our Healing Circles:

If you have been newly diagnosed, are at the beginning, in the middle or beyond treatment, or if you have lived with cancer for a while, we invite you to join our circles. You may seek to find meaning in the challenge of cancer, bear witness to your own or others’ suffering or loss, and explore your own individual choices and capacity for healing.

Our healing circles are a safe and supportive space to walk with each other through these times. Each circle is a blend of sharing and silence, compassion and curiosity. Our agreements ensure acceptance and confidentiality. We honor our own unique paths to healing and respect the choices of others.

Cameron House

Cantonese Support Groups

Cameron House:

Chinese Cancer Support Group

(In Cantonese)

卡梅倫之家：

中國癌症支持小組

(粵語)

Contact Donna Lee, CSG & Event Coordinator on how to become a member and to join the support group. Phone number 415-781-0401 extension 127

Visit: https://cameronhouse.org

有關如何成為會員和加入支持小組的信息，請聯繫 CSG

和活動協調員 Donna Lee。電話號碼 415-781-0401 分機 127

Bay Area Cancer Connections

Support Groups

Breast Cancer Support Group for BIPOC  

3rd Mondays | 5:30 - 7:00pm

Facilitated by Dolores Moorehead, M.S., APCC

Please call our Helpline at 650-326-6686

__________________

Spanish Language Breast Cancer Support Group:

United Women

Grupo de apoyo de cáncer de mama en español:

Mujeres Unidas   

3rd Thursdays | Tercer Jueves del mes | 6:30pm-7:30pm

(Space is limited) | (El espacio es limitado)

Facilitado por Tatiana Martinez, LMFT

To Register:

Please call our Helpline at | Para mas informacion, llame al 650-326-6686

Multiple Myeloma Support

for SF Bay Area

Multiple Myeloma Support Group     

3rd Saturdays 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM, Virtual 

We're here to help patients, their families, and loved ones. Multiple myeloma need not be seen as a death sentence, but rather a disease to be managed. Education and support are key. We have newly diagnosed patients as well as patients diagnosed more than 10 years ago. We share what we know about myeloma diagnosis, symptoms, markers, treatments, side-effects, clinical trials, quality of life, and many other topics of interest.

Register here

For more information email: Jack Aiello or Rob Salmon

Fertility

Health Benefits

Advocating for

Fertility Health Benefits  

Fertility Within Reach is a national non-profit dedicated to helping individuals increase access to fertility treatment and preservation. Cost or access to fertility preservation should not be a barrier in someone’s ability to start a family when they choose. 

Fertility Preservation (Adolescent Oncology)

Fertility preservation gives many families a chance to look forward, allowing them to imagine a future beyond cancer where they do not need to lose hope of having a biological child. Studies have shown that childhood cancer survivors express regret if their fertility is affected by prior therapy and they were not counseled at diagnosis and during their treatment. Fertility Within Reach aims to support youth and their families through this journey, expand the options for parenthood, and provide financial support for fertility preservation.  



Fertility Preservation (Transgender)

Fertility preservation is a beacon of hope for many patients, allowing them to imagine a future where they do not need to give up the possibility of having a biological child. Studies have shown that most adults who chose gender-affirming treatment in adolescence were not counseled about preserving their fertility during treatment. Fertility Within Reach supports transgender youth and their families through this journey, broadens the options for parenthood, and provides financial support for fertility preservation.

Open to Options:

A service of the

Cancer Support Community

Have you recently been diagnosed with a new or recurrent cancer? Do you need to make decisions about treatment options? Do you have an appointment scheduled to meet with your doctor?

Cancer Support Community offers a question listing service to help you prepare for your upcoming oncology visit. This service is available at no cost to anyone diagnosed with a new or recurrent cancer who has to make decisions about treatment options. The goals of this program are to help you communicate clearly with your medical team, ask critical questions about your options, and help ensure that your treatment decisions fit your personal hopes and goals. To make an appointment, please call us at 925-933-0107 or 888-793-9355.

MarinHealth:

Free Weekly Online QiGong for Cancer Survivors & Chronic Illness

Thursdays | 10:00 - 11:00 am

QiGong is a form of gentle, exacting movement and still meditation that uses the breath and mind to work with the body’s energy (or Qi). The intention is to help patients regain a deep sense of trust in their bodies and to encourage an open, relaxed, and calm mental state that more readily allows self-healing. This class is best suited to cancer patients and those with chronic illnesses. UCSF patients and caregivers are welcomed.

NCEFT Open House:

Mental Health & Resilience Program

Learn about the benefits of Equine Assisted Therapy. Join them for an informational hour. Meet the staff and their heard of horses, learn about what they do and stay up-to-date on upcoming programming.

NCEFT is a non-profit physical, occupational and mental health therapy facility in Woodside, CA. For over 50 years, NCEFT has tapped into the profound rehabilitative power of the human-horse relationship to facilitate healing to thousands of Bay Area children and adults (ages 2-85+) living with physical, cognitive, and neuromuscular disabilities, as well as mental health conditions/concerns. 

Participants will learn tools to help cope with their diagnosis, and gain a positive sense of self through:

• Mindfulness exercises with horses
• Bonding and caring for horses
• Group Discussion
• Guided meditation
• Participating in barn life
• Journaling
• Community building

For more information or to appllly for a program

Call: 650-851-2271 or see website

Meditative Hiking

(In person)

Explore the outdoors and be present to the flow of conscious awareness in and around you. Meditative walks or 'mindfulness hikes' are a special opportunity for embodied walking, self-observation, mindful movement, reflection, lightheartedness, and building intra & interpersonal community. 

This month's locations are coming soon:

Below are the usual locations, but may vary. 

Please email the Facilitator or visit the website for details.

• Mountain Lake to Baker Beach, round trip. Meet at the NE corner of the tennis courts, which are approximately 30 meters North of the intersection at Lake Street and 12th Avenue in San Francisco. 

• Park Presidio (round trip) meet in the parking lot at 300 Finley Road, San Francisco. 

• Glen Canyon Park to Cole Valley (one-way), meet at the corner of Elk and Chenery Streets in San Francisco. Public transportation is suggested for this hike. You can also utilize BART, MUNI, or Uber when arriving or when concluding our hike.

Cost: Donation based. A suggested donation of $10-20

Email to confirm dates and times: Email James Mitchell or text/call: 415-290-6718.

JAM4JOY Zumba Classes

Daily classes | See virtual and outdoor schedule below

JAM4JOY is a non-profit organization founded by Zumba instructors Judy Young and Angie Shin, who have been teaching together since 2015. JAM4JOY Zumba classes are offered for FREE or donations are gladly accepted. It is our mission to bring people together in community in a healthy way, to reduce isolation, and to educate about and support important causes impacting our community. Donations received for our classes, after expenses are sent to local organizations.

Join JAM4JOY:  Sign up now  to get the weekly updates and zoom links

Contact for more information: [email protected]

Low Impact Virtual Exercise Classes

Tuesdays & Thursdays

12:00 - 12:30 pm PT

These 30 minute Low Impact Training Classes are free of charge for cancer survivors, thrivers, and caregivers. 

Partnering with: Low Impact/Intensity Training (LIT)

What is Low Impact Training?

• A combo of functional strength, stretching, balance, and low-intensity
• Designed for those that want to improve their fitness level without feeling overwhelmed
• Chair/wall useful for supported exercises
• Alternative exercises offered for limitations/injuries
• All exercises are low impact to reduce stress on body
• Positive, encouraging atmosphere- you can do it!

COVID Information Resources

• UCSF's FAQ: Coronavirus and Patients with Cancer 
• Coronavirus COVID-19 Links for the UCSF Cancer Community
• Guide to Living with Worry and Anxiety Amidst Global Uncertainty
• Coronavirus: What People with Cancer Should Know, by National Cancer Institute
• Staying Well While Staying Home, for Cancer Patients, by CDC
• What You Need to Know About Hand Washing, video tutorial by CDC
• Coronavirus and Cancer Resources for Survivors, Nat'l Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
• Cancer and COVID-19: What You Should Know about Increased Risk, Cleveland Clinic
• Your Cancer Care during the Time of COVID, TIME article by UCSF's Dr. Laura Esserman

Well-Being Resources

• 12 Free Psychotherapy Sessions for low-income women with cancer from WCRC
• COVID-19 and Cancer Patient Support Group by CancerCare
• Healing Circles Global, with Commonweal
• Resources for Coping with COVID-19, by Living Beyond Breast Cancer
• The HeartMath Experience, to ease stress and increase your resilience
• Managing Fear During Coronavirus, SurvivorNet video with UCSF's Dr. Dianne Shumay
• Resources to Support Your Mental Health During Covid-19, from UCSF Psychiatry
• How To Stay Resilient And Mentally Healthy During The Coronavirus Outbreak, NPR interview with UCSF's Dr. Elissa Epel
• Healthy at Home: Tips for Wellness and Balance, by UCSF Campus Life Services
• Coping with Quarantine, recording with Rick Hanson, PhD
• B-Well Together: Wellbeing Breaks, by Salesforce
• Guide to Well-Being During Coronavirus, by Greater Good Science Center
• Six Daily Questions to Ask Yourself During Quarantine, by Greater Good Science Center
• Mission Hospice and Homecare Events

Online Mindfulness / Meditation

Live:

• Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, weekdays at 11:00
• Ten Percent Happier, free live meditation sessions every weekday at noon PST

Recorded:

• UCSF Osher Center Guided Meditations and Imagery
• Mindfulness, Healing and Wisdom in a Time of COVID-19, with Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD
• Pandemic Care Resources, meditations and talks by Tara Brach
• Insight Timer, free meditation app for your smart phone

Online Movement Classes

Live:

• Moving for Life, New York-based classes for cancer patients
• Yoga on the Labyrinth, from Grace Cathedral

Recorded:

• Massachusetts General Hospital's yoga video for cancer patients
• Virtual Garden Yoga, recorded at the San Francisco Botanical Garden
• UCSF Campus Life Services Workouts (especially yoga or low-impact exercises)

Online Education and Enrichment

Videos on Cancer

• UCSF Patient & Family Cancer Support Center Online Video Library
• UCTV Online Video Library
• American Cancer Society Video Library
• CDC Cancer Video Library 

Movies and Talks

• Kanopy (free with a library card)
• TED Talks
• Live Online Sundays in the Gardens Tours:
• City Arts & Lectures events

Museum and Cultural Tours

• 12 Virtual Museum Tours, from Travel & Leisure
• Virtual Tours of Museums, Zoos and Theme Parks, from Good Housekeeping
• 50 Ways to Experience Culture from Your Couch, from CNN

Concerts

• San Francisco Symphony Concerts
• NPR Live Sessions
• NPR Tiny Desk Concerts
• UCTV Concerts

Making Art

• UCSF Maker's Lab's online classes. Note: non-UCSF patients must e-mail to register.
• UCSF Art For Recovery, weekly Facebook group, e-mail Amy Van Cleve for details
• Color our Collections, downloadable, printable coloring pages from the Smithsonian

Online Classes

• Khan Academy
• BerkeleyX, free online courses from UC Berkeley 
• HarvardX, free online courses from Harvard University

English