Support Comes In Many Forms
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Free Cancer Support and Open Discussion Groups
Visit our Calendar for information on up-coming speaker topics. If you plan to attend, please pre-register to help us prepare, walk-ins also welcome.
Cancer patients, survivors and caregivers benefit from the support of others with similar cancer experiences. Our general cancer support and open discussion groups are for all men and women touched by the disease. Even though you may receive support from friends and family, joining a support group provides you with an opportunity to be with people who are likely to provide you with a profound understanding of what you are going through, because they have similar feelings, worries, everyday problems, treatment decisions, or treatment side effects.
Unless a guest speaker / topic / special population is specified, our groups are available to anyone dealing with cancer in an open discussion format.
General Cancer Support Group – Merritt Island
Second Friday of the Month 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Hobbs Pharmacy, 133 N. Banana River Dr, Merritt Island
General Cancer Support Group – West Melbourne
Second Friday of the Month 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Sunflower House, 3125 Fell Rd, West Melbourne
General Cancer Support Group – Rockledge
Third Friday of the Month 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Cancer Care Centers of Brevard Rockledge, 1048 Harvin Way, Rockledge 32955
Brevard Breast Cancer Support Group
Third Tuesday of the Month 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Hobbs Pharmacy, 133 N. Banana River Dr, Merritt Island
Cancer Survivor Workshop: Educate & Empower
A special 8-week education and discussion series for newly diagnosed and in-treatment survivors
We will try to coordinate the next workshop series around the schedule of interested participants. Please [send us an email / or contact us] if you’d like to participate and we will contact you.
Self-Exploration, Support, Education, and Discussion
Held in the Spring or Fall
Maintaining quality of life and sense of control are proven factors to improve one’s emotional health during cancer treatments. But how do you manage this when you are feeling so stressed and uncertain? This workshop is for people recently diagnosed or undergoing cancer treatment who want to explore and process the emotional impact of their cancer experience.
We will offer practical information and demonstrate helpful coping methods and self-care practices that will educate and empower you to a strong recovery! Bring your questions and concerns, or just come with an open mind ready to listen and learn from experts and each other. Reflection activities and discussion will cover a different topic each week. To receive maximum benefit from this holistic approach to cancer care and to keep cohesion with the small group, we ask that you commit to attending all or most of the 8 sessions.
WEEKLY TOPICS: to include guest speakers, Q&A, and open discussion:
Week 1 – Self-Discovery / Healing / Empowerment (intro)
Week 2 – Emotional Health & Support
Week 3 – Physical Health
Week 4 – Practical Matters: Insurance, Finances, Employment
Week 5 – Mind-Body Exercise
Week 6 – Nutrition
Week 7 – Express Yourself: Writing, Art, Social Support – with social worker Christina Tecson
Week 8 – Vision Board Creation Activity & Open Discussion- with social worker Christina Tecson
Don’t forget to register for all 8 classes in the series! But don’t worry if you miss the start of this series, you can still join us!
For questions about this series please email Christina at [email protected]
Cancer Survivor Workshop: Renew & Rediscover
A special 8-week education and discussion series for those who have completed active treatment
Renew & Rediscover, Support, Education, and Discussion
Held in the Spring
This workshop is for people who want to explore and process the emotional impact of their cancer experiences, ideally those who have completed active treatment. Participants will be requested to read the book “Picking up the Pieces: Moving Forward After Surviving Cancer,” which we will provide.
Bring your questions and concerns, or just come with an open mind ready to listen and learn from experts and each other. To receive maximum benefit from this holistic approach to cancer care and to keep cohesion with the small group, we ask that you commit to attending all or most of the 8 sessions.
Reflection activities and discussion will cover a different topic each week: to include guest speakers, Q&A, and open discussion:
Week 1 – Self-Discovery / Healing / Empowerment (intro)
Week 2 – Physical Hhealth and Cchanges
Week 3 – Emotions and Spirituality
Week 4 – Social Relationships
Week 5 – Grief
Week 6 – Moving Forward
Week 7 – Express Yourself: Writing, Art, Social Support – with social worker Christina Tecson
Week 8 – Vision Board Creation Activity & Open Discussion- with social worker Christina Tecson
Don’t forget to register for all 8 classes in the series! But don’t worry if you miss the start of this series, you can still join us!
For questions about this series please email Christina at [email protected]
If you have specific questions or concerns that you prefer not to address in a group format, please contact us to schedule a phone call or online meeting.
Our support group facilitator, Christina Tecson, a cancer survivor and licensed social worker, will contact you. A health care professional or peer volunteer from our support team will assist you to utilize your social support system and navigate the appropriate services available to you, both within our organization, as well as in the community. They are also available for individual mental health or supportive counseling.
In these days of social isolation please know that a friend is just a call away. Contact us to schedule a “check in” phone call with a social worker or peer volunteer.
Contact us at [email protected]
PROVIDER SPOTLIGHT: Christina Tecson, LCSW
“Vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness. As challenging as it is to deal with cancer, the experience can be the catalyst to inspire change in a person. It can open up a place inside of you and uncover a strength that you didn’t realize existed. It can deepen your connections with others and empower a person to live a more meaningful life. I love helping cancer survivors explore their emotions to find peace and purpose.”
Christina Tecson, a licensed clinical social worker, began as a volunteer with Complementary Cancer Care in 2019. Her experience as a breast cancer survivor and also previous volunteer work at several cancer organizations has aided her to facilitate support groups and develop a variety of social support and creative expression programs for Complementary Cancer Care. Her signature program, Cancer Survivor Empowerment Workshop, is modeled off of a program she participated in when recovering from cancer that inspired her to refocus her career and live a more meaningful life. She was selected as a “Hero of Hope” motivational speaker for American Cancer Society and an advocate for Living Beyond Breast Cancer’s national advocacy program for women diagnosed with breast cancer before age 45. Her career prior to social work encompassed 20 years in marketing and public relations, including several years working in the nonprofit sector. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, and a Master’s in social work at Saint Leo University.
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