UT Southwestern Medical Center has a caring staff of medical professionals who are committed to enhancing patients’ quality of life, as well as meeting the needs of patients’ families. Our staff can direct them to a variety of informative and enriching support groups and other resources, which can be tailored to meet a specific situation.
At UT Southwestern, excellence in patient care includes pointing the way to resources patients and their families may not be familiar with, but which have proved invaluable to others. We trust these services will assist patients on the road to healing and improved health.
Support Groups
WINGS: Women in New Growing Situations
This support group is for women with any cancer diagnosis. Facilitated by Angela Herbrich, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, it meets in the third floor Breast Center Library in the Seay Building on the fourth Monday of every month at 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Husbands and Partners of Women With Cancer
Facilitated by Dale McEowen, L.M.S.W., this support group is available for husbands, or partners, of women with any cancer diagnosis. It meets in the second floor conference room NC2.406 in the Seay Building on the first and third Tuesdays of every month at 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Dialogue Support Group
The Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center’s psychologist, Noelle McDonald, Ph.D. and oncology social worker Leslie Fetchen, L.M.S.W. offer this support group for anyone diagnosed with cancer, as well as their caregivers and families. Open to everyone, the group meets in the second floor conference room NC2.406 of the Seay Building on Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Man to Man
This support group is for men with prostate cancer. Facilitated by Tamara Dickinson, R.N.; Sally Brown, R.N.; and Dale McEowen, L.M.S.W., the group meets in the Physicians Dining Room in UT Southwestern University Hospital - Zale Lipshy (near the cafeteria) on the second Monday of every odd-numbered month (January, March, May, July, September, November) from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Ovarian Cancer Support Group
This support group is for women with ovarian cancer. The group is facilitated by Leslie Fetchen,
L.M.S.W., and meets from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Seay Building NC2.406. Participants are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch; coffee and water are provided.
Resources
Social Work
Social workers and case managers at UT Southwestern provide a wide variety of valuable inpatient and outpatient services, including developing a total plan of care. Our social workers perform a comprehensive assessment of needs to determine the extent of services required for care and support, including providing patient and family counseling and coordinating with community providers for transportation, supplies, medication, home health services, hospice care and financial needs.
Nutrition Services
Nutrition is an important part of cancer treatment. Choosing the right kinds of foods to nourish the body can help the patient stay stronger and feel better throughout treatment. The dietitians in the Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center can assist patients in making informed choices about nutrition as well as work with them to:
- Minimize side effects from treatments (chemotherapy, hormonal medications, transplants, surgery)
- Enhance quality of life during treatment
- Improve ability to tolerate treatment
- Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
- Prevent or correct nutritional deficiencies
- Incorporate healthy nutrition habits
- Provide nutritional guidance on alternative nutritional therapies
- Educate family members about the patient’s special nutrition needs.
A note on vitamins, minerals, supplements and herbs during cancer treatment: If the patient plans to use any supplements, herbs or other complementary, alternative medicines during cancer treatment, PLEASE discuss it with the health-care team first. These may interfere with the patient’s treatment and/or medications.
Genetic Counseling and Risk Assessment
In many families, a pattern of cancer is obvious. In others this might not be the case, sometimes due to a small family size or an incomplete family history. Current estimates indicate that at least 5 percent of all cancers are due to a specific inherited syndrome while approximately 10 percent of cancers are familial. UT Southwestern’s Genetic Cancer Risk Assessment Service identifies high-risk families and allows us to help them understand their risk of developing cancer as well as their options for prevention, early detection and treatment. We also have a familial cancer registry, or database of families with various types of cancer who are participating in research studies. It was established in 1992 to monitor people who have an increased risk of cancer due to their family background. Enrollment in the registry is completely confidential.
Moncrief Cancer Resources
An affiliate of the Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at UT Southwestern, this nonprofit, community-based organization provides support services to cancer patients and their families in Tarrant County and surrounding areas. Social services, nutritional services, an oncology patient navigator and a transportation program are among the offerings.
Web Sites
Brain Cancer
American Brain Tumor Association
This not-for-profit organization, founded in 1973, provides patient-education materials and research awards with the goal of eliminating brain tumors. Links to events around the country encourage patients and their supporters to help raise funds for this important cause.
Brain Tumor Society
The Brain Tumor Society provides a wealth of resources for patients and physicians. Envisioning a world without brain tumors, this organization offers information regarding different types of brain tumors, support groups and materials for those who provide care to brain cancer patients.
National Brain Tumor Foundation
This national nonprofit organization aims to provide support and information to patients, caregivers, supporters and health-care professionals. The Web site offers individuals the opportunity to research brain cancer, volunteer to help fight brain cancer and learn about research opportunities.
Breast Cancer
ACS Reach to Recovery
For more than 30 years, the American Cancer Society Reach to Recovery program has helped both men and women cope with their breast cancer.
BreastCancer.org
BreastCancer.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most reliable, complete and up-to-date information about breast cancer and considers itself to be the “lifeline” to the best medical information about breast cancer.
Look Good, Feel Better
Founded in 1989, Look Good, Feel Better is a free, nonmedical, brand-neutral, national public-service program supported by corporations to help women offset appearance-related changes from cancer treatment.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
The Susan G. Komen for the Cure was founded in 1982 on a promise made between two sisters – Susan Goodman Komen and Nancy Goodman Brinker. More than 20 years later, Susan G. Komen for the Cure is a global leader in the fight against breast cancer, working through a network of U.S. and international affiliates and events, such as the Komen Race for the Cure.
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization
The mission of the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization is to ensure, through information, empowerment and peer support, that no one faces breast cancer alone.
Childhood Cancers
Association for Research of Childhood Cancer (AROCC)
Founded by parents in 1971, the AROCC’s mission is to raise funds for scientific and clinical research to cure pediatric cancers. Newsletters, special events and ways to contribute are features on this site.
Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation
More than 150,000 people, including pediatric cancer patients and their parents, families, educators and physicians belong to this group.
Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation
Families of children with brain tumors find support through this organization, whose mission is to raise funds to research and eradicate pediatric brain tumors.
Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation
This nonprofit organization was founded in 1988 to provide tools to researchers and care providers of children with brain and spinal cord tumors.
Children’s Cancer Fund
The Children’s Cancer Fund (CCF) is dedicated to finding cures for childhood cancer by funding pediatric cancer research, treatment, education and patient programs at the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Medical Center Dallas and
UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Children’s Oncology Group
This Web site joins the Children’s Oncology Group and the National Childhood Cancer Foundation to find ways to cure childhood and adolescent cancers.
Children’s Tumor Foundation
Focusing on neurofibromatosis, the Children’s Tumor Foundation provides information for patients and their families and offers ways to contribute to fundraising efforts.
Wipe Out Kids Cancer (WOKC)
Founded more than 25 years ago, this Dallas-based organization holds a variety of major fundraising events each year, including a golf classic and two fun runs. WOKC’s Ambassador Program annually highlights 10 to 15 patients at Children’s Medical Center Dallas, who represent all of the center’s cancer patients through activities and support groups.
Gastrointestinal Cancer
American Liver Foundation
The American Liver Foundation (ALF) is the nation's leading nonprofit organization promoting liver health and disease prevention.
Colon Cancer Alliance
The Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA) is an organization of colon and rectal cancer survivors, their families, caregivers, people genetically predisposed to the disease and the medical community.
Colorectal Cancer Network
The Colorectal Cancer Network is survivors and their loved ones uniting to build a support network, to advocate for awareness, screening and early detection programs, and to encourage legislative action.
LiverTumor.org
LiverTumor.org provides reference materials about liver cancer and treatment options. The Web site features information about the symptoms, prognosis and progression of primary and metastatic liver cancer.
National Pancreas Foundation
The mission of the National Pancreas Foundation (NPF) is to support the research of diseases of the pancreas and to provide information and humanitarian services to those people who are suffering from such illnesses.
Pancreatica
The purpose of the Pancreatica Web site is to serve as a gathering point for the latest news and information regarding clinical trials and other medical care in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Gynecologic Cancer
National Cervical Cancer Coalition
The National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC) places a very special and personal focus on providing outreach support to women with, or at risk for, cervical cancer and HPV (human papilloma virus) disease.
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition’s mission is to raise awareness and promote education about ovarian cancer.
Women's Cancer Network
The Women's Cancer Network is an interactive Web site dedicated to informing women about gynecologic cancer. Its goal is to assist women who have developed cancer, as well as their families, to understand more about the disease, learn about treatment options, and gain access to new or experimental therapies.
Head and Neck Cancer
American Academy of Otolaryngology
This Web site describes the missions and programs of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) – as well as the AAO-HNS Foundation, through education, research and lifelong learning.
Support for People With Oral and Head and Neck Cancer (SPOHNC)
SPOHNC is an organization dedicated to meeting the needs of oral and head and neck cancer patients, offering guidance and self-help.
Lung Cancer
American Lung Association
The American Lung Association is the oldest voluntary health organization in the U.S., with a national office and constituent and affiliate associations around the country.
Lung Cancer Alliance
The Lung Cancer Alliance is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated solely to patient support and advocacy for people living with lung cancer and those at risk for the disease.
Lungcancer.org
Lungcancer.org is a service of CancerCare, a national nonprofit organization that provides free professional counseling, educational programs, financial assistance and practical help to people with cancer, their loved ones and the bereaved.
Lymphoma, Leukemia, and Myeloma
International Myeloma Foundation
The mission of the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) is to help all those battling multiple myeloma — patients, families, friends, caregivers, and the medical and scientific communities.
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
The mission of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and also to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.
Lymphoma Research Foundation
Formed in November 2001 by the merger of the Cure for Lymphoma Foundation (CFL) and the Lymphoma Research Foundation of America (LRFA), the Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) is the nation’s largest lymphoma-focused voluntary health organization devoted exclusively to funding lymphoma research and providing patients and health-care professionals with critical information on the disease.
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) was founded in 1998 by twin sisters Karen Andrews and Kathy Giusti following Kathy's diagnosis with multiple myeloma.
National Marrow Donor Program
The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) helps people who need a life-saving marrow or blood-cell transplant.
Melanoma
James A. Schlipmann Melanoma Cancer Foundation
The purpose of the James A. Schlipmann Melanoma Cancer Foundation is to provide support to clinical trials and research studies and to advance education, awareness, screenings and treatment to eventually eradicate melanoma cancer.
Melanoma International Foundation
The foundation provides hope and guidance to melanoma patients and families and supports the most effective melanoma programs for the prevention, early detection and treatment of melanoma.
Melanoma Research Foundation
The Melanoma Research Foundation supports scientific research directed at finding effective treatments and ultimately a cure for malignant melanoma.
Skin Cancer Foundation
The Skin Cancer Foundation is the only national and international organization that is concerned exclusively with the world's most common malignancy – cancer of the skin.
Urologic Cancer
American Cancer Society’s Man to Man Program
The American Cancer Society’s Man to Man program helps men cope with prostate cancer by providing community-based education and support to patients and their family members.
Kidney Cancer Association
The Kidney Cancer Association (KCA) is a charitable organization made up of patients, family members, physicians, researchers and other health-care professionals.
Lance Armstrong Foundation
Founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong, the organization provides practical information and tools for people living with cancer.
National Kidney Foundation of North Texas
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is a major voluntary health organization seeking to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases, improve the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these diseases, and increase the availability of all organs for transplantation.
Prostate Cancer Foundation
The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) is the world's largest philanthropic source of support for prostate cancer research.
Testicular Cancer Resource Center
The Testicular Cancer Resource Center (TCRC) is a charitable organization devoted to helping people understand testicular and extragonadal germ cell tumors.
