Support Series / Staying Connected
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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
- Endometrial and Uterine Cancer, Mondays at 3PM ET
- New Diagnosis, Tuesdays at 1PM ET
- Loved Ones, Wednesdays at 3PM ET
- Evolving Hope, Fridays at 1PM ET
Monthly Sessions — scroll down for group descriptions, and to register
- Young Adults, one per month on select Tuesdays at 7 PM ET
- Express Yourself, one per month on select Thursdays at 3PM ET or 7PM ET
- Book Club, one per month on select Tuesdays at 3PM ET
Special Sessions — scroll down for group descriptions and to register
- Summer Roundtables, two in summer 2024 on select Thursdays at 3 PM ET
- Giving Voice to Grief, closed group Wednesdays at 7 PM ET
- Cancer en Español, cuatro sesiones en octubre, los jueves a la 1 PM
- Roundtable seres queridos en Español, una única mesa redonda en noviembre
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.
Endometrial and Uterine Cancer: Mondays at 3PM ET
Join us for a weekly psychoeducational support session, facilitated by an Oncology Social Worker, for those diagnosed with endometrial and uterine cancer who want to connect with others with their diagnosis.
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.
Loved Ones: Wednesdays at 3PM ET
Support for partners, spouses, parents, adult children, and friends.
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.
For more information about this group, please email us at support@ocrahope.org.
Monthly Sessions
Young Adults
Meet other young adult survivors to discuss care and share support. This group will be held on select Tuesdays monthly at 7 PM ET.
Please note: There will be no Young Adults group in August.
Express Yourself!
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 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. Due to international shipping constraints with our supply provider, we may not be able to send supplies to registrants in countries outside of North America. If this is the case for you, we will reach out to you after you register to discuss alternative options.
OCRA’s Express Yourself series is generously sponsored by AstraZeneca, GSK, Merck, and GRAIL.
August 22, 3 pm ET: “Pages of Our Lives”
In August, we will host a special combined Express Yourself! and Book Club session! The theme of the session is “Pages of Our Lives”. The session will take place on Thursday, August 22 from 3-4:30 pm ET. We will be sending you a craft for the session; we also encourage you to please come ready to share your favorite children’s book with the group. We encourage you to register early! The deadline to register for US participants is Thursday, August 15; for international participants, the deadline is Thursday, August 8.
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 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. Due to international shipping constraints with our supply provider, we may not be able to send the free book to registrants in countries outside of North America. If this is the case for you, we will reach out to you after you register to discuss alternative options.
We will be hosting a combined Express Yourself! and Book Club session in August. Please scroll up to the Express Yourself! section to register.
Summer Roundtables
August 15, 3 pm ET: Talking With Your Children About Cancer
Join us for a 90 minute roundtable on how to talk to your children about cancer. This session is open for anyone with children in their lives who would like to meet with others about how to talk to them about cancer, share experiences, and build community.
Special Sessions
Loved Ones Bereavement: Giving Voice to Grief
Closed 12-week program starting Wednesday, September 11 at 7 pm ET
Please join us for a one-time opportunity to participate in 12 weekly sessions on Wednesdays from 7-8 pm ET dealing with issues facing caregivers and other family members who have lost a loved one to cancer. This program will focus on understanding the grieving process, coping with the reality of grief, learning to adjust to life after loss, and finding ways to continue to honor and live with and without your loved one. The group will provide a supportive environment for individuals to connect with others while learning to process and manage their loss. This program will be facilitated by an oncology social worker with whom you will be required to complete a pre- and post-one-to-one meeting. Space is limited so please register now.
Cancer en Español
En octubre, ofreceremos cuatro sesiones para pacientes y sobrevivientes de cáncer ginecológico de habla hispana. Cada sesión cubrirá un tema diferente y brindará una oportunidad para dar y recibir apoyo y aprender nuevas estrategias para sobrellevar su diagnóstico. Las sesiones se llevarán a cabo los jueves a la 1 pm ET, del 3 al 24 de octubre. Los temas de las sesiones serán:
Regístrese, Sesión 1, 3 de octubre: Como navegar el sistema médico
Regístrese, Sesión 2, 10 de octubre: Diagnóstico, segundas opiniones, tratamientos y ensayos clínicos
Regístrese, Sesión 3, 17 de octubre: Comunicación y cómo conseguir lo que necesita
Regístrese, Sesión 4, 24 de octubre: Apoyo y recursos
Roundtable seres queridos en Español
El jueves, 14 de noviembre a la 1 pm ET, ofreceremos una mesa redonda de 90 minutos facilitada en español para personas que cuidan a seres queridos diagnosticados con cáncer ginecológico. Esta sesión está abierta a todos los cuidadores para que tengan la oportunidad de conectarse con otros al igual que dar y recibir apoyo.
Community Agreements
Community Agreements have been developed to protect you and all participants, and the sanctity and privacy of these groups. Adherence to these agreements is required to attend our sessions:
- 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
- Please register for one Staying Connected session per week based on the topic that best fits your needs. Our monthly Express Yourself and Book Club may be attended in addition to one weekly group.
- Please do not share your Zoom link with anyone else. Your Zoom link is individual to you; two participants can not use the same link.
*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.
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Need Help Now?
In crisis now? If you need help due to a medical emergency, please call 911 and notify your physician. If you are feeling suicidal or are having an emotional emergency, please call or text the suicide prevention hotline at 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.
