Community Corner

Breast Cancer Support Groups On The Shoreline

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, here's a list of local breast cancer support groups.

 

One in 8 American women and 1 in 1,000 American men will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives. It’s estimated that more than 2 million people are diagnosed with breast cancer and fight for their lives each year.

Breast cancer is difficult to face alone—for both patients and their loved ones. To help in the battle, there are a number of local resources and support groups, including the Breast Cancer Support Group of The Cancer Support Community - Southern Connecticut (CSC-SCT). This free breast cancer support group meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m., the second and fourth Tuesday of each month in the newly renovated Orchard House at 421 Shore Drive in Branford.

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“Support groups are really beneficial,” says Debra Somerrs Copit, MD, Director of Breast Imaging at Albert Einstein Medical Center, and a member of the medical advisory board for Living Beyond Breast Cancer.

“When patients are told they’re sick, it can be an out of body experience and they aren’t taking in everything the doctor is saying. It can be helpful to have someone to turn to and learn from who has gone through the same thing,” says Copit, who is a breast cancer survivor herself.

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Not only do groups offer emotional support, but being a part of a support group can actually help patients feel less depressed and can help to reduce physical pain, according to a 2001 study published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Patients who aren’t big fans of group settings but still want to reap the benefits can turn to technology. It’s hard to duplicate in-person support groups on the web, but the recently launched breast cancer specific social networking platform, MyBreastCancerTeam comes close.

The site and mobile app caters to breast cancer survivors, and women  who have been recently diagnosed. Users can find suggestions for doctors and find similar users based on location, diagnosis and age. Members also have access to peer-driven Q&A section where they can read and write posts.

While a web platform may be useful for some, Dr.Copit worries that online forums can sometimes trigger the spread of misinformation. She suggests that patients who can’t make it to an in-person support group try calling a phone line.

Living Beyond Breast Cancer has a confidential survivors’ helpline that connects patients with others of similar background, going through similar situation. Call (888) 753-LBBC (5222) for more information.

Here are some additional resources nearby:


Address Services
Reduced Cost Distance From Madison
The Wellness Community 67 Turtle Bay Dr
Branford, CT 06405
Yes 9.75 mi Enfield Community Health Center 5 North Main Street
Enfield, CT 06413
  • Screening

Yes 4.23 mi Clinton Community Health Center 114 East Main Street
Clinton, CT 06413
  • Screening

Yes 4.23 mi Meriden Community Health Center 134 State Street
Meriden, CT 06450
  • Screening

Yes 18.72 mi MidState Medical Center—Cancer Center 435 Lewis Avenue
Meriden, CT 06451
  • Treatment
  • Screening
  • Support Group

Yes 19.43 mi Planned Parenthood-Meriden Health Center 26 Women's Way
Meriden, CT 06451
  • Screening

Yes 19.43 mi Middletown Community Health Center 675 Main Street
Middletown, CT 06457
  • Screening

Yes 17.23 mi Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center 28 Crescent Street
Middletown, CT 06457
  • Treatment
  • Screening
  • Support Group

Yes 17.23 mi Sisters' Journey 1151 Hartford Tpke
North Haven, CT 06473
  • Support Group

No 14.08 mi Planned Parenthood Old Saybrook Health Center 263 Main Street
Old Saybrook, CT 06475
  • Screening

Yes 11.72 mi Yale New Haven Hospital—The Smilow Cancer Center 20 York Street
New Haven, CT 06510
  • Screening
  • Support Group

Yes 16.18 mi Cornell Scott Hill Dixwell Health Center 226 Dixwell Avenue
New Haven, CT 06511
  • Screening

Yes 17.16 mi Hospital of Saint Raphael- Cancer Center 1450 Chapel St
New Haven, CT 06511
  • Treatment
  • Screening
  • Support Group

Yes 17.16 mi Planned Parenthood- New Haven Health Center 345 Whitney Avenue
New Haven, CT 06511
  • Screening

Yes 17.16 mi Haven Free Clinic Fairhaven Community Health Center 374 Grand Avenue
New Haven, CT 06513
  • Screening

Yes 13.48 mi Nubian Sisters Cancer Support Group 298 Summit Street
New Haven, CT 06513
  • Support Group

No 13.48 mi West Haven Health Center - Cornell Scott Hill Health Partner 285 Main Street
West Haven, CT 06516
  • Screening

Yes 18.46 mi Cornell Scott Hill Health Center 428 Columbus Avenue
New Haven, CT 06519
  • Screening

Yes 17 mi Yale Cancer Center 333 Cedar Street
New Haven, CT 06520
  • Treatment
  • Screening
  • Support Group

Yes 16.32 mi Connecticut Pain Initiative 538 Preston Ave
Meriden, CT 06540
  • Support Group

No 16.1 mi

 

TELL US: Do you know of any breast cancer support groups in the community? How have they helped you?


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