Support - Living with Cancer
 

Coping With The Holidays While Dealing With Cancer

Holiday Celebrations

  • Establish realistic goals and expectations.
  • Create a new holiday season tradition that makes the most of your energy.
  • Remember the true meaning of the holidays.
  • Give yourself permission to do less...or nothing.
  • Keep things simple.
  • Don't be afraid to make changes-it can make things less stressful & more enjoyable.
  • Spend time with caring, supportive, nurturing people. Limit the amount of time spent with people that are difficult to be around.
  • Limiting activities or avoiding the holidays may be the best option for some.
  • Delegate responsibility to others and ask for help.
  • Decide what can be comfortably done.
  • Have a pizza and decorating house party.
  • Hire a cleaning person to clean the house before the holidays.
  • Make celebration informal-use throw away plates to save time on doing dishes.

Holiday Gifts

  • Be an innovative shopper instead of spending exhausting hours searching the mall. You may want to order from catalogues, shop online or buy gift cards instead.
  • To minimize financial stressors, know your spending limit, set a budget & stick to it.
  • If you find arts & crafts relaxing, consider giving some handmade gifts this year.

Self-care

  • Be sure to get enough sleep, or at least rest if sleeping is difficult.
  • Regular exercise helps relieve stress.
  • Take time for yourself-for solitude and relaxation.
  • Take care of yourself; eat balanced meals and exercise if possible.
  • Allow yourself the simple pleasures; hot bath, naps and favorite foods.
  • Give yourself a break from cancer. Find healthy distractions like going to a movie, dinner or play.
  • Express your feelings in ways that help you receive the support of the important people in your life. Honor your emotions.
  • Give yourself permission to feel your feelings, whether of joy, fear, sadnes or pain.
  • Learn to say no.

  
Support Groups for People Living with Cancer

People who are living with cancer meet regularly to share their personal experiences, express their concerns, and foster a spirit of hopefulness. Experienced professionals facilitate these groups.

If you are interested in attending a support group, please call Ann’s Place, The Home of I CAN at 203-790-6568.

Caring – Support group for friends and family of cancer survivors. 1st and 3rd Wednesday evenings with Paula LeFebvre, MS and Carol Woodruff, MFT.

Coffee & Conversation – Senior women surviving cancer. 4th Thursday morning with Mary Burke.

Danbury New Voices Club – For people who have had a laryngectomy. Family members are welcome. 1st Sunday afternoon with Mary Burke.

Daytime – For men & women surviving cancer. 1st & 3rd Monday mornings with Jean Conover, MA.

In Common – For woment with cancer related lymphedema. Call for information, Mary Burke.

Just Us – A group for people living with a blood cancer. On Wednesdays, every six weeks. Check calendar for listings and call to attend. Facilitated by Jean Conover, MA.

Family Day - An event for families to connect with others and share some food & fun. Call Cheryl Koeber or Margie Blake.

Kids Kan/CLIMB – Educational/play group for children with a family member diagnosed with cancer.  Call for information.  Cheryl Koeber, MSW, LCSW or Margie Blake, CLC.

Keeping On – Ongoing support group for young survivors of recurring or chronic cancers. Call for information.

Men’s Together (Us TOO) – For men with prostate cancer. 1st Wednesday evening with Jim Coffey, MA.

Women Only – For women diagnosed without gynecological cancers.

Women Together – For newly diagnosed breast cancer survivors. 2nd & 4th Wednesday evenings with Tammy Conley, MSOB.

Women Together Graduates – For post-treatment breast cancer survivors. 2nd Monday evening with Carol Woodruff, MFT and Shane Miller, MA, LMFT.

Parents Group - Support for parents where there is cancer in the family. 1st and 3rd Wednesday evenings with Cindy Corn, MSW, LCSW

Partners – Support for patners of Prostate Cancer survivors. 1st Wednesday evening with Valerie O'Rourke, MSW.

Post Graduates-Alumnae – Long-term breast cancer survivors. 3rd Monday evenings with Mary Burke.

Spirituality Group - Open to all cancer survivors. A forum to discuss meaning, purpose and issues of faith as impacted by a cancer diagnosis. 1st Tuesday afternoon of each month with Cheryl Koeber, MSW and Su Murdock, MSW.

Transitions - Bereavement group for individuals who have lost a loved one to cancer. 1st & 3rd Tuesday evenings with Cindy Corn, MSW, LCSW.

Transitions Grads - Bereavement group for individuals who have lost a loved one to cancer and are further along in healing from loss. 4th Monday evenings with Dorothy McCarty, MS.

Young Adult Group – This group fills a gap in addressing the concerns of 20 to 40 year old’s who find themselves caught up in a cancer diagnosis at too early of an age. Together they explore the timely issues of sexuality and cancer, dating, family relationships, fitness and other survivorship issues. Co-led by Dr. Marc Rappaport and Counselor Dorothy McCarty.