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Cancer Support Groups

Overview

A diagnosis of cancer can be stressful to patients and their families. Smilow Cancer Hospital has licensed clinical social workers available to help patients manage their feelings and concerns throughout their cancer care. Our social workers also facilitate many support groups that provide the opportunity to receive emotional and educational support and to talk with others who are undergoing similar treatment, or who have successfully completed treatment. These support groups are open to patients of Smilow Cancer Hospital and their families.

At Smilow Cancer Hospital

Bladder Cancer

Our support group for patients with bladder cancer is held the first Monday of every month from 11 am - noon. This group is held in person for patients of Smilow Cancer Hospital that are recently diagnosed, actively in treatment, or have completed treatment for any type of bladder cancer. For more information, please contact Lori Roy, RN at 203-203-671-3491 or Crystal Batson-Jones, LMSW at 475-224-9658. 

Blood Cancers

Date/Time
2nd Tuesday of each month
1 pm via zoom

Contact
Mary Strauss, LCSW, OSW-C
203-500-7434

Brain Tumors

Date/Time
3rd Monday of each month
3 - 4:30 pm via zoom

Contact
Stefania Santinon, LMSW
475-227-5068

Breast Cancer

Date/Time
1st Tuesday of each month
3:30 - 4:30 pm via zoom

Contact
Susanne Lee-Baldassini, LCSW
475-224-8052

Early Onset Cancers (ages 18-49)

Date/Time
2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month
noon - 1:00 pm via zoom

Contact
Halley Robinson, LCSW
475-209-6954

Early Onset Cancers Caregivers (for those caring for loved ones 18-49)

Date/Time
2nd & 4th Thursday of each month
4 pm via zoom

Contact
Mary Strauss, LCSW, OSW-C
203-500-7434

Esophageal Cancer

Our esophageal cancer support group offers vital emotional support, practical advice on managing treatment side effects, and community for patients and caregivers receiving care at Smilow Cancer Hospital. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with esophageal cancer, please join us virtually via Teams on the third Friday of every month at 12:15 pm. To learn more, contact Shenell Charles, LCSW at 203-640-7268.  

Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancers

Date/Time
3rd Thursday of the month at 1PM

Contact
475-227-4232

Gynecologic Cancers

Date/Time
3rd Tuesday of the month at 2:30PM

Contact
475-227-4643

Head and Neck Cancer

Date/Time
4th Thursday of each month
4 - 5:00 pm via zoom

Contact
Kerry Lassen, LCSW
203-645-9076

Laryngectomy

Contact
Jessica Stein, LCSW
203-200-6358

David Zirlen, MS
203-785-5430

Loss of Spouse

Loss of Spouse

Date/Time
3rd Wednesday of the month at 5:30PM

Contact
203-415-8940


Loss of Spouse (day)

Date/Time
Every other Tuesday of the month at 9:30AM

Contact
203-415-8940

Lung Cancer

Date/Time
1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month
1 pm via zoom

Contact
Halley Robinson, LCSW
475-209-6954

Melanoma, Skin and Kidney

Date/Time
TBD

Contact
Stefania Santinon, LMSW
475-227-5068

Multiple Myeloma

Date/Time
Last Tuesday of each month
5 pm In-person at North Haven Care Center, 4th floor and via zoom

Contact
Karen Christensen, LCSW
203-824-3569

NeuroEndocrine

Date/Time
2nd Thursday of each Month
1 pm via Zoom

Contact
Teresa DeNicholas, LCSW
203-889-6735

Pancreatic Cancer

Date/Time
Every Monday
1:30 - 2:30 pm via zoom

Contact
Laura Donnelly, LCSW
203-368-8747
Kim Wills – Rinaldi, LCSW
203-804-2968

Prostate Cancer

Date/Time
1st Wednesday of each month
12 - 1:30 pm

Contact
Stefania Santinon, LMSW
475-227-5068

Stem Cell Transplant

Contact
Mary Crooks, LCSW
203-200-6357

Thyroid Cancer

Contact
Katherine Hawthorne, RN
203-737-2036

Colleen Jannitto, RN
203-785-3446

Young Adult Cancer (ages 18-39)

Contacts
Angela Khairallah, LCSW
203-200-6360

Lisa Barbarotta, APRN
203-200-3278

Other Locations

While all of our support groups are open to patients of Smilow Cancer Hospital that have received care at any of our locations, we do have several groups that meet specifically at certain locations,

North Haven Medical Center

Patient & Family Support

Date/Time
Tuesdays (except last of the month) at 4PM

Contact
203-215-2135

Orange Care Center

General Cancer

Date/Time
3rd Wednesday of the month at 2:30PM

Contact
Jennifer Cohen, LCSW
203-215-5208

Park Avenue Medical Center

Women With Cancer

Date/Time
2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 10 am

Contact
203-590-1759

Men’s Cancer

Date/Time
2nd Wednesday of the month at 11 am

Contact
203-383-0425

Saint Francis Hospital (Hartford)

Women’s Advanced Cancer

Date/Time
2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 2PM

Contact
Cheryl Dostie, LCSW 860-714-4731

Shoreline Medical Center (Guilford)

Breast Cancer
Jessica Stein, LCSW
203-200-6358

For Caregivers and Family

Booklist for Children and Families

View the Booklist for Children and Families

Caregiver's Group

Date/Time
1st and 3rd of each month
Thursday 4pm via zoom

Contact
Mary Strauss, LCSW, OSW-C
203-500-7434

General cancer support

Date/Time
2nd Tuesday of the month at 1PM

Contact
203-415-8940

Patient Resources

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