Support Series / Staying Connected
Gynecologic cancer patients, survivors, friends and family are invited to join us for our virtual support programs facilitated by our Patient Support team.
Staying Connected launched in the early, isolated days of the pandemic, in order to provide those diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer with a place to meet others, feel supported, and gain a sense of community. An initial weekly Zoom meeting facilitated by an Oncology Social Worker evolved into a comprehensive nationwide program of weekly and monthly online gatherings, offering invaluable connection and support. Registration is required.
Weekly Sessions — scroll down for group descriptions, and to register
- Living Well after Recurrence, Mondays at 1PM ET
- New Diagnosis, Tuesdays at 1PM ET
- Loved Ones, Wednesdays at 3PM ET
- Evolving Hope Fridays at 1PM ET (on hiatus until 9/15/2023)
Monthly Sessions — scroll down for group descriptions, and to register
- Express Yourself, one per month at either 3PM ET or 7PM ET
- Book Club, one per month on select Tuesdays at 3PM ET
- Young Adults, one per month on select Tuesdays at 7 PM ET
Weekly Sessions
Living Well After Recurrence: Mondays at 1PM ET
Join us for a weekly psychoeducational support session, facilitated by an Oncology Social Worker, for those diagnosed with a recurrence of a gynecologic cancer who want to connect with others about navigating options, integrative therapies, quality of life, and strategies for living well after recurrence.
Please note: there will be no group on Monday, October 9 due to the Indigenous People’s Day Holiday.
New Diagnosis: Tuesdays at 1PM ET
Join our weekly psychoeducational support session facilitated by an Oncology Social Worker, for those newly diagnosed with gynecologic cancer, or those who have completed front-line therapy. Discussions focus on navigating diagnosis and treatment, coping with treatment symptoms, completing therapy, and finding a new normal.
Please note: There will be no group on Tuesday, September 26.
Loved Ones: Wednesdays at 3PM ET
Support for partners, spouses, parents, adult children, and friends.
Please note: There will be no group on Wednesday, September 27.
Evolving Hope: Fridays at 1PM ET
This weekly psychoeducational support session, facilitated by an Oncology Social Worker, is for those diagnosed with gynecologic cancer, and focuses on themes that include goals of care, advance care planning, legacy-making, and dying well.
Monthly Sessions
Young Adults
Meet other young adult survivors to discuss care and share support. This group will be moving to monthly for the rest of 2023 and will be held on select Tuesdays monthly at 7 PM ET.
Monthly Express Yourself Series
Each month OCRA hosts an Expressive Arts session that will provide an opportunity to create, explore, and share. Meetings are 90- minute sessions via Zoom, facilitated by two Oncology Social Workers – Tracy and Nancy. Each month’s session will include a themed therapeutic activity combined with discussion.
We send links upon registration and resend links the day of the event. Please call us at (212) 268-1002 if you have not received the link in advance of the session.
Please note: the registration deadline for any US participants is one week prior to the date of the session. The deadline for any international participants is two weeks prior to the date of the session.
OCRA’s Express Yourself series is generously sponsored by AstraZeneca, GSK, Merck, and GRAIL.
Registration for our September session is now closed. Stay tuned for more information coming soon on our October Express Yourself.
Book Club
Please join us for a monthly facilitated Book Club to provide a space to reflect and connect around a shared reading. Sessions will be 90 minutes and are open to individuals who have been diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer. Each month’s book selection will be mailed to registered participants in advance of the session. Participants should come to Book Club having read the selected book and ready to share thoughts and reflect on the book’s themes.
Please note: in order for participants to receive the selected book in the mail prior to the session, the deadline for any US participants is one week prior to the date of the session. The deadline for international participants is two weeks prior to the date of the session.
October 24, 3 PM ET – “The Wise Women” by Gina Sorell
Join us on October 24 at 3 PM ET for our Book Club session where we will disuss “The Wise Women” by Gina Sorell. The registration deadline for US participants is Tuesday, October 17 by 3 PM ET; for international participants, the deadline is Tuesday, October 10 by 3 PM ET.
Community Agreements
Community Agreements have been developed to protect the sanctity and privacy of these groups:
- Please register in advance for each session*
- Please plan on attending the group from the start through the entire program (once group has begun no further members will be able to join)
- Please attend the group in a private and quiet setting, and plan to remain on video for the duration of the meeting
- Please protect members’ confidentiality
- Please respect all members and offer feedback without judgement or negativity
*We recommend you register at least 24 hours in advance, but no later than 15 minutes in advance of the session. Your meeting link will be provided upon registration. If you have not received your meeting link by the morning of the session, please contact ehynes@ocrahope.org during business hours for assistance.
Support Group calls are held via Zoom Pro.
View more information about Zoom’s security measures.
