Support Groups & Services
People diagnosed with cancer and their families face many challenges that may leave them feeling overwhelmed, afraid, and alone. It can be difficult to cope with these challenges or to talk to even the most supportive family members and friends. Often, support groups can help people affected by cancer feel less alone and can improve their ability to deal with the uncertainties and challenges that cancer brings. Support groups give people who are affected by similar diseases an opportunity to meet and discuss ways to cope with the illness.
Chattanooga-Area Support Groups
I Can Cope (American Cancer Society)
Contact: Laura Robinson at 423-495-1865
Held twice a year, this is a six week cancer education course designed to help patients and their families understand cancer and cancer treatment. The course also provides practical help in coping with the emotional issues resulting from diagnosis. We tap into other support activities in the community based on the specific needs of the patient and family members.
Look Good Feel Better
Meets 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. bi-monthly
Contact: Melissa Pendergrass at 423-493-1690
Look Good, Feel Better is designed to help women undergoing cancer treatment.
Leukemia-Lymphoma Support Group
Meets 4:00 p.m. on the 1st Thursday of each month
Contact: Kim Shank, RN & Gerre Schwert, LCSW 423-495-7888
Nashville-Area Support Groups
Please note: support groups are listed by cancer site.
All Cancers
Look Good, Feel Better
3901 Central Pike
Hermitage, TN 37076
Meets 5 – 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month
Contact: Lori Thomas, (615) 391-7320
Look Good, Feel Better is designed to help women undergoing cancer treatment.
Sponsored by the American Cancer Society and Summit Medical Center, Look Good, Feel Better is designed to help women undergoing cancer treatment.
Gilda's Club
1707 Division Street
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone:615-329-1124
Fax: 615-329-1167
Email:info@gildasclubnashville.org
Free of charge to everyone, Gilda’s Club Nashville, an affiliate of the Cancer Support Community, provides a non-residential home-like gathering place where people living with cancer--and their family members and friends--can join with others to build social and emotional support. We offer resource information, educational lectures, mind-body workshops and classes, diagnosis specific groups, movement workshops, expressive arts, cooking and nutrition classes, support groups, and social events. At Gilda’s Club Nashville you will find support, education, laughter, hope and inspiration—it is a place where men, women, young adults, teens and children find strength, comfort and wisdom by sharing their experiences—learning to live well with cancer, whatever the outcome. Call (615) 329-1124 or visit www.gildasclubnashville.org for more information.
American Cancer Society General Cancer Support Groups
- Maury County
Maury Regional Medical Center, Columbia, TN
Phone: 931-381-1111 - Dickson County
Meets at Tri-Star Bank in Dickson, TN
Phone: 615-441-1325 - Sumner County
Meets at Sumner Regional Medical Center, Gallatin, TN
Phone: 615-230-5070 - Robertson County
Meets at First United Methodist Church, Springfield, TN
Phone: 615-327-0992
Cancer Support Group
St. Stephen Catholic Community
Room 105, Holy Family Center
14544 Lebanon Rd
Old Hickory, TN
Contact: Kim at 615-812-2056
Meets at 7:00PM on the 4th Tuesday of each month. Meetings are open to all - patients, survivors and caregivers.
I Can Cope
American Cancer Society
Meets in multiple locations in the following counties, call for locations and meeting schedules
Phone: 615-327-0991 - Call for locations and meeting schedules.
- Davidson
- Dickson
- Rutherford
- Smith
- Sumner
- Trousdale
- Williamson
Peggy’s Support Group of Dickson County
TriStar Bank - Fourth Floor
719 E. College St
Dickson, TN 37055
Contact: Vicki Crosby at 615-441-1325
Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.
Open to men and women coping with a diagnosis, treatment and recovery of all types of cancer.
Multi County Cancer Support Network
110-B Lauderdale Street
Tullahoma, TN 37388
Phone: 931-393-4443 or 800-497-4322
Fax: 931-393-4413
E-mail: cancernetwork@cafes.net
Provides support for cancer patients, family members & survivors and serves the Franklin, Coffee, Moore, Lincoln, Grundy, Marion & Bedford counties
- Estill Springs group meets at 7:00 PM on the 1st Thursday of each month at the Nazarene Church in Estill Springs.
- Shelbyville group meets 2nd Tuesday at 7:00 PM every other month at the Union Planters Bank (Elm Street Branch). Call 800.497.4322 to obtain schedule
Brain
Gilda's Club
1707 Division Street
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone:615-329-1124
Fax: 615-329-1167
Email:info@gildasclubnashville.org
Breast Cancer
American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Support Group
American Cancer Society
2008 Charlotte Ave
Nashville, TN 37203
Meets monthly, call to obtain meeting schedule.
Contact: 615-327-0991
- Lincoln County (American Cancer Society)
Patrick Rehab-Wellness Center, Fayetteville, TN
Meets 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m.
Contact: 327-0991 (ACS) - Williamson County (American Cancer Society)
Williamson Medical Center
Meets 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.
Contact: 615-435-6733 - Montgomery County (American Cancer Society)
Montgomery County Public Library, Clarksville, TN
Meets 3rd Tuesday of the month at 5:00 p.m.
Contact: 615-327-0991 (ACS) - Rutherford County (American Cancer Society)
Meets at Middle Tennessee Medical Center, Murfreesboro, TN
Call for meeting times
Contact: 615-327-0991 (ACS)
Brave Hearts Breast Cancer Survivor's Group
Panara Bread in Goodlettsville
Meets the 4th Thursday of every other month (February - December only)
Contact: Linda Coombs at 615-859-9730 or 615-957-7309
Gilda's Club Breast Cancer Group
Gilda's Club
1707 Division Street
Nashville, TN 37203
Contact: Gilda's Club at 615-329-1124
After Breast Cancer (ABC) Program
YMCA – Cool Springs
121 Seaboard Lane
Brentwood, TN 37027
Monthly educational seminars meet at 7:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday of each month
Contact: Wendy Hardaway at 615-661-4200
Designed specifically for breast cancer survivors, the program is free, membership to the YMCA is not required. In addition the program offers individualized exercise programs designed by qualified professional Personal Trainers, Group exercise sessions, Yoga classes. Personalized nutritional counseling.
C.O.P.E.
Contact: 222-2056
This program provides a cancer patient with the opportunity to work with an exercise specialist to address her unique physical and mental needs during and after treatment. C.O.P.E. helps a patient restore and maintain an optimum level of physical and mental health through physical activity among a group of individuals who are also undergoing cancer treatment. It is an individualized, progressive wellness program that is tailored to a person's abilities and knowledge.
Bone Marrow
Vanderbilt Hospital
11 North Conference Room
11th Floor, Main Hospital
Meets every Wednesday from 4 - 5:00 p.m.
Contact: Linda Hudson at 615-343-6546
Colorectal
Gilda's Club
1707 Division Street
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone:615-329-1124
Fax: 615-329-1167
Email:info@gildasclubnashville.org
Melanoma
Gilda's Club
1707 Division Street
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone:615-329-1124
Fax: 615-329-1167
Email:info@gildasclubnashville.org
Laryngectomy
New Voice Club
American Cancer Society
2008 Charlotte Ave
Nashville, TN 37203
Meets at 2:00 p.m. on the 2nd Sunday of every other month
Contact: 615-327-0991
Leukemia/Blood Related Cancers
Family Support Group
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
404 BNA Drive, Suite 102
Nashville, TN 37217-2571
Meets at 6:30 p.m. on the 1st Monday of each month at Gilda's Club
Contact: Mary Winslow at 615-331-2980
Provides many support and networking groups, lectures, workshops and social events free of charge.
Lung
Lung Cancer Networking Group
Gilda’s Club
1707 Division Street
Nashville, TN 37203
Contact: 615-329-1124
Open to patients, survivors, friends and family members dealing with a lung cancer diagnosis.
Ostomy
United Ostomy Association
American Cancer Society
2008 Charlotte Ave
Nashville, TN 37203
Meets at 2:00 p.m. on the last Sunday of each month
Contact: 615-327-0991 or 615-228-8432
Prostate
Us Too/Nashville
Baptist Hospital
Gladys Stringfield Owen Conference Center, Rooms A & B
2000 Church Street
Nashville, TN 37203
Meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. (except July & December)
Contact: 615-284-7300 (General cancer center line at Baptist)
Other Support Groups (Providing Support Services Over the Phone or Internet)
Cancer Survivors Network
Created by and for cancer survivors, the Cancer Survivors Network (CSN) is a telephone and Internet-based support service. From the time of diagnosis and beyond, anyone experiencing cancer is invited to use this service. Listen to or read (Internet) 100 hours of pre-recorded discussions and stories. Find and connect with others like yourself. It is free, easy to use, and accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Toll Free: 877-333-4673
www.acscsn.org
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization
A telephone and Internet-based site that offers breast cancer information, resources and support for patients, survivors, families, and friends. The telephone hotline is staffed by trained peer counselors who are breast cancer survivors. It is a convenient, anonymous resource for breast cancer information, as well as support. Callers can be matched with a survivor, patient and/or supporter having had a similar experience with breast cancer. On the Internet site, guests can submit questions concerning breast health and/or breast cancer, which are answered by a breast cancer survivor.
Toll Free: 800-221-2141 (English) or 800-986-9505 (Spanish)
www.y-me.org
National Cancer Organizations
Browse our comprehensive list of National Cancer Organizations and resource links compiled and organized by cancer site.
Nutrition Services
Cancer and cancer treatment often make eating difficult. Some patients lose weight or have trouble eating foods that provide the right energy. You may also experience some nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea. However, ensuring your nutritional needs are met is all the more important for maintaining strength during cancer treatment. SCCC dieticians can evaluate your dietary needs and make special recommendations to help you get the calories and nutrients you need to maintain a healthy weight. Good eating also strengthens your immune system in its fight against cancer, the effects of treatment and any infections that may develop.
Patient Navigator
SCCC patient navigators actively guide patients through the health care system. Through one-on-one contact, the patient navigator has been trained to work with patients to help them solve problems and overcome barriers that might keep them from getting the care they need.
Learn more about our Oncology Patient Navigators located at both Centennial and Parkridge Medical Centers.
Social Services
Your cancer diagnosis can affect your life in many different ways. Social workers are available to help patients cope with the stress of the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. They provide counseling to both you and your family in finding support groups of other cancer-related services, and often help coordinate a hospital discharge and follow up care.
Want to learn more about our Support Services? Click here to send us a question and/or request additional information about the services offered through TriStar Sarah Cannon.
Cancer Registry
The Cancer Registry is a component of the TriStar Sarah Cannon program that collects data on cancer patient care that includes diagnosis, surgical intervention, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In addition, the registry follows each patient for his/her lifetime to ensure the patient continues to be evaluated by appropriate medical personnel on a regular basis and to collect the outcomes of therapies. These data are then sent to a national database that is utilized to determine future standards of care and prevention for all types of cancer – the grass roots in the fight of cancer.
