AT SOME POINT in their journey through diagnosis and treatment, cancer patients are virtually certain to cross into uncharted territory—a point at which they feel uncertain about what their treatment will entail, how to cope with symptoms or side effects, or how to overcome the myriad practical, day-to-day challenges they’re likely to encounter along the way.
Family members and friends, however well-intentioned, can’t be of much help in these scenarios unless they’ve experienced cancer themselves, and healthcare providers have only so much time during appointments to address all the potential questions and concerns that commonly arise for cancer patients. However, what can make a huge difference for cancer patients grappling with uncertainty is participating in a support group with other patients who are facing—or have faced—many of the same issues.
Recognizing that patients empowered with information are better poised to meet and overcome the challenges of cancer and treatment, The Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers is once again offering the monthly cancer support group Stronger Together to their patients in active treatment.
According to Melinda Campbell, CNP, of The Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers, who was instrumental in developing Stronger Together, the support group provides participants a wide range of benefits, chief among them being access to more support and education than doctors and other practitioners can provide during relatively brief office visits. “Our providers make every effort to address symptoms, side effects, and other patient concerns, but sometimes there just isn’t enough time for them to cover these issues in depth. Stronger Together gives us the opportunity to provide additional education beyond what patients get in their regular appointments,” she says.
Campbell explains that Stronger Together was launched in the spring of 2014 at the urging of a 30-year-old patient who had acute promyelocytic leukemia. “This gentleman was then referred to the Cleveland Clinic where he underwent induction chemotherapy (inpatient chemotherapy) and then came back to us local to carry out the remainder of his treatment. Throughout his treatment, he had no one his own age with the same diagnosis to talk to—no one who had to leave to get their five-year-old child off the school bus like he did. He asked if we offered any type of support group, and when we said we didn’t, he suggested we form one. So, I sat down with him and his wife and we came up with the idea. An office contest was then held to choose a name for the support group, and Stronger Together was the winner,” she says. In fact, that patient ended up being one of the speakers for Stronger Together, and his cancer journey and outlook was his topic of choice. Each month different doctors and other experts came in to give presentations on a wide range of topics relevant to patients and their loved ones.
Unfortunately, as was the case for so many similar programs at the time, Stronger Together had to be put on hiatus during the COVID pandemic. However, Campbell states, “Now that we’ve opened a brand-new, state-ofthe- art facility in Maumee, we feel there’s no time like the present to reintroduce our monthly support group for the benefit of patients.”
Diet and nutrition, busting cancer myths, managing cancer-related fatigue, advance directives, and sexual-related side effects are just a sampling of the educational topics presented at monthly Stronger Together meetings.
Participants are also informed of vital community resources available to them, such as The Victory Center, which offers a variety of cancer wellness services including other support groups, and Nightingales Harvest, which provides healthy foods as well as hygiene and cleaning products at no cost to cancer patients and their families.
Cancer support group participation may not directly affect patients’ outcomes, but it can give them a greater sense of optimism and empowerment as they progress through their cancer journey. “Cancer affects people not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally, and people find different ways of coping. In my experience, those who participate in a support group seem to find healthier ways of coping and bring a better attitude to treatment,” says Campbell.
For patients who aren’t convinced that attending Stronger Together meetings will benefit them, Campbell offers this advice: “Try it once! Go to at least one session to get a feel for whether it’s right for you. Also, keep in mind that you don’t have to attend every session. You can pick and choose the topics that are interesting and relevant to you.”
Stronger Together meets on one Tuesday each month (the exact date varies based on speaker availability) from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the Maumee Cancer Center, located at 1200 Medical Parkway, in the second-floor conference room. The meetings will resume August 2024. Questions on what the topic of the month is? Call the office and speak to our staff today for more information.
The Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers, located at 1200 Medical Center Parkway in Maumee and 4126 N. Holland Sylvania Road, Suite 105 in Toledo, also provides imaging, laboratory, chemotherapy, specialized pharmacy, and IV services. The cancer center consists of 13 physicians and 11 advanced practice providers. The cancer center also has satellite centers in Napoleon, Bowling Green, Wauseon, Bellevue, Oregon, and Monroe.
The Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers has earned Patient-Centered Specialty Practice recognition and Oncology Medical Home recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Oncology homes align systems and resources with coordinated care focused on cancer patients and their needs. This reduces fragmentation, supports shared decision making, and improves the patient experience. They are the first oncology practice in the state of Michigan and the second oncology practice in the state of Ohio to receive this recognition.
For more information, please call The Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers at 419-479-5605. ✲
