Gynecological Cancer Support Group
The UCSF Gynecological Cancer Support Group is a drop-in support group for women who have been diagnosed with any kind of gynecological cancer and are in any stage of treatment.
Location: Online. Please contact us for information and availability.Meetings: First and third Wednesday of the month, 4:30 6:30 p.m.Contact: 514-1962
Urostomy And Continent Diversion Patients Find Support And Education From Peers At Uoaa
May is Bladder Cancer Awareness Month. According to the American Cancer Society, this year more than 80,000 people are expected to be diagnosed and approximately 17,000 will die as a result of this disease.
Bladder cancer survivors are a major part of the ostomy community represented by United Ostomy Associations of America through support groups, educational resources, and national advocacy.
For those with this cancer who require their bladder to be removed, a urostomy or continent diversion may be necessary. A urostomy is a surgically created opening in the abdominal wall through which urine passes. A urostomy may be performed when the bladder is either not functioning or has to be removed. There are several different types of surgeries, but the most common are ileal conduit and colonic conduit.
Be Prepared
Our new ostomy patient guide is available to all who need it and it is a great overview of what to expect. Our urostomy guide has even more in-depth information. If you have a medical question contact your doctor or nurse, in you have a quality of life question- UOAA likely has the answers.
Other surgical options after bladder removal may not require an external pouching system such a continent pouch, or orthotopic neobladder. Continent diversion surgery needs lifestyle consultation and thought before being seriously considered since these surgeries are extensive and have possible complications including incontinence.
Urostomy Tips
Connect with a Community
Peer Support By Phone
The UCSF Peer Support Program offers cancer patients the opportunity to speak with an individual who has “been there” a cancer survivor or someone who is farther along in their treatment. All cancer patients are welcome regardless of where they receive medical care. As fully as possible, patients are matched with peer support volunteers according to criteria such as diagnosis, cancer stage and age, or by preference of the person seeking support.
Our support groups are made possible in part by a generous donation from the Donna Smith Fund. Donna fought cancer with an indomitable spirit and left a legacy of encouraging patient and family participation in each patient’s cancer care journey.
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Indicates A Cancer Support Community Or Gilda’s Club Primary Location
Dont see a location near you?
Contact our toll-free Cancer Support Helpline at to receive resources and information targeted to your specific needs. You can also join MyLifeLine, our online community platform which connects patients and caregivers with their own personal support community and to others like them on discussion boards.
Interested in bringing Cancer Support Communitys program to your area?
We welcome individuals and groups eager to bring support services to people impacted by cancer in their communities. All licensed Cancer Support Community locations are independent, tax-exempt organizations. Our team has guided many groups through the process of opening, staffing, and licensing Cancer Support Community partners. For more information, email or call 202-659-9709 and ask for the Partner Relations Department.
What Is Maintenance Therapy For Bladder Cancer
2 min
Ruby, your virtual community navigator, will help you understand what maintenance therapy is and how it can be used to treat bladder cancer.
Your treatment will be based on whether you have non-muscle invasive or muscle-invasive bladder cancer.
TURBT Procedure
If you have bladder cancer, your urologist will perform a surgical procedure called a transurethral resection of bladder tumor . This is the most common way to remove early-stage tumors. For the procedure:
- You will be given anesthesia.
- Your urologist will insert a scope through the urethra into the bladder. This part is very similar to a cystoscopy.
- Your urologist will remove any abnormal looking tissue using the scopes wire loop.
- A pathologist will look at this tissue under a microscope to learn more about the abnormal tissue.
Scanxiety
Having to go for repeat testing or needing repeat surgeries can cause anxiety, sadness, depression, or frustration. These follow-up tests can also cause a great deal of stress. Follow-up cystoscopies may cause pain and discomfort, which can cause even more anxiety. Patients have nicknamed these feelings scanxiety.
Emotional Support
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National Cancer Information Center
The National Cancer Information Center provides information and support to those facing cancer 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Trained cancer information specialists are available via phone, live chat, and now video chat, providing accurate, up to date cancer information to patients, family members, and caregivers and connecting them with valuable services and resources in their communities.
Bladder Cancer Educational Series Virtual Grand Rounds
Hear important updates from Greenberg Bladder Cancer Institute leaders, hosted by Dr. David McConkey, GBCI Director, through our virtual Zoom series focused on engaging the broader bladder cancer patient/family/advocacy community. Our program consists of a one-hour Zoom webinar . An opportunity to chat with experts. All sessions are free of charge.
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Make Your Health Journey Easier
Anyone with cancer, their caregivers, families, and friends can benefit from help and support. The American Cancer Society partners with CaringBridge, a free online tool that allows people dealing with illnesses like cancer to stay in touch with their friends, family members, and support network by creating their own personal page where they share their journey and health updates.
Ask Your Doctor For Suggestions
Your physician or healthcare team can be a good source of information on the type of support available to you in your area. They should be able to introduce you to specialized bladder cancer resources, including support groups.
Other expert healthcare providers such as psychologists, dietitians, counselors, home health service technicians, or other specialists like oncology nurse navigators or social workers you come into contact with may also have a wealth of knowledge gained from helping other patients in similar circumstances, and may know of more specialized support available. Itâs always worth asking if they can help connect you with a support group.
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All Cancer Family And Friends Support
The UCSF All Cancer Support Group for Family and Friends is open to anyone who offers emotional and practical support to a loved one with cancer. Participants learn tools to cope with the psychological and physical aspects of caring for a loved one, and find ways of nurturing themselves.
Location: Online. Please contact us for information and availability.Meetings: Second Wednesday of the month, 5:30 7 p.m.Contact: 502-6478
Colorectal Cancer Support Group
The UCSF Colorectal Cancer Support Group is provided so that people living with various types of colorectal cancer may meet to share experiences, concerns and questions.
Location: Online. Please contact us for information and availability.Meetings: Second and fourth Monday of the month, 6 7:30 p.m. Contact: Vittorio Comelli, 476-0468 ext. 1 or
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Prostate Cancer Support Group For Gay Men
The UCSF Prostate Cancer Support Group for Gay Men is offered as a place for gay men and their partners to exchange information, support each other and improve symptom management. It is open to UCSF patients and also to the community.
Location: Online. Please contact us for information and availability. Meetings: First and third Monday of the month, 6 7:30 p.m.Contact: Vittorio Comelli, 476-0468 ext. 1 or
How To Find A Patient Support Group
Many of our member organisations have established online peer-to-peer support groups, providing information, comfort and support in a space without judgement. There are also support groups designed for caregivers, who take on this important role when a friend or family member becomes sick and may also benefit from speaking to others going through the same experience.
For many, a support group can help to fill an important gap in the need for emotional and informational support. Hospital care teams may not be fully equipped to meet all of these patient needs and families may not always know the best way to support someone experiencing the impact of the disease or its treatment.
To help you connect with a support group near you, we encourage you to find a bladder cancer patient organisation on Our network page in you respective country to find out about how you can join the community.
If one does not yet exist, why not set one up in your country and connect local patients? We would encourage you to get in touch with us for guidance on how to do it or read our start-up guide for more information on how this can be done with examples from our members.
Do you know an online bladder cancer support community that is not listed below? Get in touch with us, and help us connect more patients and families seeking support.
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Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network
A resource that is devoted specifically to bladder cancer is the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network . It is a national advocacy organization that is dedicated to bladder cancer research, advocacy, and providing support to bladder cancer patients. The organization also provides a directory of local in-person support groups for bladder cancer patients throughout the United States.
All Cancer Husbands And Significant Others
The UCSF All Cancer Support Group for Husbands and Partners is for men whose significant other has cancer. The group explores positive ways of coping, provides emotional support, and shares information on treatments, side effects, complementary therapies, financial concerns and insurance issues.
Location: Online. Please contact us for information and availability.Meetings: Second and fourth Tuesday of the month, 5:30 7 p.m. Contact: 353-7632
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The Benefits Of A Cancer Support Group
Receiving a bladder cancer diagnosis can be tough. You may experience a whole range of difficult feelings, and need to cope with significant changes in your life. While your loved want to help, they may find it hard to know exactly how you feel, or how best to support you. This can sometimes feel very lonely.
Support groups are usually made up of people who have been through similar experiences, and are able to understand exactly what you’re going through. This can help you feel less isolated in your experience.
A cancer support network or group can provide a space to talk about and work through challenges and feelings you are experiencing, and get information and tips on how to cope with common issues. Support groups can also give caregivers a chance to learn more about how to better support those with bladder cancer, and each other.
Here are some other ways that being a part of a bladder cancer support group may help you:
Blood Cancer Support Group
The UCSF Blood Cancer Support Group is an informal educational support group for hematology and bone marrow transplant patients. Family members are welcome to attend. Registration is required.
Location: Online. Please contact us for information and availability.Meetings: Second Tuesday of the month, 3 4:30 p.m.Contact: 353-2965
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Bladder Cancer Virtual Support Group
The Bladder Cancer Support Group is open to people living with bladder cancer and their loved ones. Facilitated by our Oncology Nurse Navigator and Oncology Social Worker. The group will provide an open and supportive space to share experiences, questions, and concerns. Topics will include coping, relationships, treatment plans, dietary needs and navigating the healthcare system. The support group will be conducted via Zoom. Instructions to join the support group will be emailed to you once you have registered.
Other questions can be emailed to or call 949-764-6857
Virtual Support Group Acknowledgement
I understand that my participation in the virtual group does not establish a care treatment relationship and that everyone attending the virtual group may be able to see and hear each participant.
I understand I have the right to withdraw my consent to participate in a community education virtual group setting and to exit the virtual group at any time.
Price: Free
Where Can I Find A Support Group
Support groups are one of the easiest and most widely available ways to get help.
One of the benefits of support groups is their variety of formats. Some meet in-person, while others meet online or even over the phone.
Finding a support group may be easier than you think. Start by asking your doctor or hospital for options near you. If you arent satisfied with these options, you can research online.
Getting connected with a local support group is a great way to meet others who are experiencing something similar. These groups usually occur once or twice a month. They involve people with the same diagnosis getting together at a local place to talk about whatever is on their minds.
Many national organizations also offer support and education to people with bladder cancer and their families. Here are some organizations in the United States or around the world that provide cancer support:
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Recent Conversations In The Bladder Cancer Forum
- lung cancerCancer that forms in tissues of the lung, usually in the cells lining air passages. The two main types are small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. These types are diagnosed based on how the cells look under a microscope.
- A malignant neoplasm derived from the transitional epithelium of the urinary tract . It is frequently papillary.
Bladder Cancer Support Group
Join us for a Bladder Cancer Support Group meeting at Summerlin Hospital on the fourth Wednesday of the month. We have space for 50 people. No RSVP is required.
For more information, please contact or , or visit www.bladdercancernv.com.Date: Fourth Wednesday of the monthTime: 6 – 7:30 p.m.Location: Summerlin Hospital
Summerlin Hospital Medical Center® is owned and operated by a subsidiary of Universal Health Services, Inc. , a King of Prussia, PA-based company, that is one of the largest healthcare management companies in the nation.
The information on this website is provided as general health guidelines and may not be applicable to your particular health condition. Your individual health status and any required medical treatments can only be properly addressed by a professional healthcare provider of your choice. Remember: There is no adequate substitution for a personal consultation with your physician. Neither Summerlin Hospital Medical Center or any of their affiliates, nor any contributors shall have any liability for the content or any errors or omissions in the information provided by this website.
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The Future Of Bladder Cancer Patient Advocacy
Bladder cancer patient advocacy, while not yet thriving, is certainly growing, both in numbers and maturity. In the ten years since 2005, longstanding voids for US, Canadian, UK, Italian, and Australian bladder cancer patient advocacy have been filled. However, the absence of bladder cancer advocacy in other parts of Europe, as well as in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, leaves large disparities in public awareness of the disease, as well as essential information, support, and treatment options for bladder cancer patients globally. We hope that patient advocates and medical professionals in other countries will be encouraged to leverage the experiences of the groups that exist today and move to fill these gaps.
At the same time, researchers will need patientadvocates to partner with them as they design, develop, and deliver these clinical trials. But developing skilled patient research advocates will require training and on-the-job experience. Formal training programs like those available in the breast and other cancer communities can ensure a pipeline of qualified candidates is available to meet increased demand.
Head & Neck Cancer Education And Support
The UCSF Head & Neck Cancer Education and Support Group is a free monthly gathering open to patients and caregivers. Teaches tools for coping with both physical and emotional aspects of head and neck cancer. Educational sessions and support groups alternate each month. It’s an opportunity to learn, share and support one another.
Location: Online. Please contact us for information and availability.Meetings: Third Thursdays of the month, 5:30 6:30 p.m.Contact: Call 514-6338 or email .
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Talk To Family And Friends
Family and friends can be a good place to begin building your support network. Practicing asking for and accepting help from those you know well and can trust can help you feel more confident in branching out to look for other forms of support.
When you receive a cancer diagnosis, people close to you will naturally want to help, but donât always know how. It can be difficult for others to understand what you are going through. You can help them support you by thinking what sort of support you might need, and asking them if they can help.
If you donât feel able to ask for emotional support, you can always try asking for help with practical or other tasks instead. Keeping a list of things you need help with, such as running errands, cleaning your home, preparing meals, childcare, and performing other daily activities, can help loved ones continue to support you. They may also be able to arrange for transportation, organize medical visits, and speak with health care providers on your behalf.
It is important you make sure you get your emotional support needs met too. Building in additional support and connecting with other survivors and support groups can provide a valuable source of this type of support.1